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IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Strand Their Opportunities in 5-2 Loss to I-Cubs

August 22, 2021 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints didn't play their cleanest game of the season and offensively they stranded 12 runners, including the bases loaded twice. It was too much to overcome in a 5-2 loss to the Iowa Cubs on Sunday afternoon at CHS Field in front of 8,024. The loss drops the Saints to 53-43.

For the second straight game the I-Cubs jumped out to a lead in the first. With one out, Abiatal Avelino reached on an infield single to third. A walk to Alfonso Rivas put runners at first and second. Trayce Thompson then hit a grounder to third and Sherman Johnson got the force out at second, but the relay throw to first wasn't in time. Avelino took too far of a turn at third and first baseman Tomás Telis threw back to third, but Avelino broke towards home and Johnson's throw to the plate was too late as the I-Cubs took a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Byron Buxton gave the people what they wanted with a 445-foot solo homer to left, his third with the Saints over two rehab stints, tying the game at one. He finished the game 1-3 with the home run.

The I-Cubs regained the lead in the second as Erick Castillo led off with a double to left. With one out Edwin Figuera knocked him home with a single to left-center making it 2-1.

The Saints had a chance to do some damage in the sixth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout of Drew Stankiewicz ended the inning.

The Saints tied it in the bottom of the seventh when David Bañuelos led off with a double down the left field line. He moved to third on a fly out by Jose Miranda. With two outs Telis' groundball to short wasn't fielded cleanly by Avelino and the fielding error allowed the run to score tying the game at two.

The I-Cubs took the lead in the top of the eighth. With two outs and nobody on, Ian Miller doubled to left-center and scored on a single to right by Avelino giving the I-Cubs a 3-2 lead.

The Saints had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Gilberto Celestino led off with a walk. That was followed by a Drew Maggi single to right-center. Sherman Johnson the reached on a fielding error by the shortstop Avelino. The Saints, however, couldn't score as Stankiewicz grounded into a fielder's choice that forced the runner at the plate. Bañuelos then popped out to third and Miranda lined out to right to end the inning.

The I-Cubs tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth on a Thompson solo homer to left, his 15th of the season, and an RBI single from Levi Jordan.

The Saints are off on Monday and return to action on Tuesday night against the Toledo Mud Hens in game one of a six-game series at Fifth Third Field at 5:35 p.m. central. The Saints send RHP Beau Burrows (2-1, 4,68) to the mound and the Mud Hens are TBA. The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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