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IL St. Paul Saints

Saints One Strike Away from Victory, Lose 3-2 in 10

September 10, 2023 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY - The St. Paul Saints have watched this scene play out one too many times for their liking this season. Carry a lead late, fail to hang on, and lose a game they feel they should have won. They were one strike away from victory on Sunday afternoon, but failed to record the 27th out and fell 3-2 in 10 innings to the Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field. The loss drops the Saints to 36-27 in the second half.

With the Saints up 2-1 in the ninth Cole Sands, who came on with two on and two outs in the eighth and recorded the final out of the inning, retired the first batter of the inning. Jacob Hurtubise walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout. On a 1-2 pitch, Jason Vosler hit a double just over the outstretched arm of centerfielder Michael Helman that scored Hurtubise to tie the game.

The Saints failed to score in the top of the 10th and in the bottom of the inning with Henry Ramos the placed runner at second and one out, Jhonny Pereda singled to center moving Ramos to third as Pereda took second on the throw home. On the first pitch to Jose Barrero, he hit one off the end of the bat that went in between the first baseman Yunior Severino and the first base bag into right field for the game winning single.

Prior to that, runs were tough to come by and the Saints pitching was exceptional.

Brooks Lee started the Saints off on the right foot by blasting a 411-foot solo homer to right in the first, his fourth with the Saints, making it 1-0.

Pereda tied it up for the Bats with a solo homer to left-center in the second, his sixth of the season.

Severino launched his eighth home run with the Saints and 32nd of the season, a solo blast to right-center in the fourth making it 2-1.

Patrick Murphy, who took over for Blayne Enlow who pitched his scheduled 2.0 innings, was superb yet again in a bulk role. Despite allowing a runner on in each inning, Murphy didn't break. The biggest moment came in the fifth when Murphy had the bases loaded and one out. He got Vosler to ground into a 3-6-3 inning ending double play. Murphy went 5.0 scoreless innings allowing five hits while walking one and striking out two.

The Saints are off on Monday and return to action on Tuesday night at Principal Park against the Iowa Cubs in game one of a six-game series at 6:38 p.m. Both teams are TBA. The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from September 10, 2023


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