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IL St. Paul Saints

Six-Run First Too Much to Overcome for Saints in 9-5 Loss to I-Cubs

June 4, 2022 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


DES MOINES, IA - The St. Paul Saints have scored the fourth most runs in the International League. Unfortunately, they have given up the second most runs in the league. The Iowa Cubs plated six in the first and the Saints got to within one late but couldn't quite get over the hump in a 9-5 loss on Saturday night at Principal Park.

Saints starter Dereck Rodríguez, who entered play with a solid 3.91 ERA, ran into trouble right off the bat. It started with a little tapper in front of the plate by Darius Hill that Rodríguez couldn't pick up as Hill reached on an infield single. With one out, Nelson Maldonado doubled Hill to third. A passed ball scored Hill to make it 1-0. With two outs, Levi Jordan reached on a bad hop single to short scoring Maldonado giving the I-Cubs a 2-0 lead. John Hicks doubled and Greg Deichmann followed with a three-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the season, increasing the lead to 5-0. The very next hitter, Narciso Crook, hit a solo homer to left, his fourth of the season, making it 6-0.

Rodríguz would last just 2.0+ innings and left the game with runners at the corners and nobody out in the third. Jake Faria came on and struck out John Hicks. After a walk loaded the bases, Faria got a line out and ground out to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Saints got three back in the third as José Godoy started things off with a one out single to center. With two outs Spencer Steer ended an 0-17 skid with a two-run homer to left, his third of the season, to cut the deficit to 6-2. Alex Kirilloff and Jake Cave followed with walks and Tim Beckham singled to center scoring Kirilloff getting the Saints to within 6-3.

Tim Beckham came calling again in the fifth. Kirilloff led off with a double down the first base line and he came around to score when Beckham doubled off the top of the wall in left-center as the Saints got to within two at 6-4. Beckham finished 2-4 with a double and two RBI. He is 6-12 in his first three games with the Saints.

Kirilloff continued his hot streak as he unloaded on an opposite field home run in the seventh, his fourth of the season and second in as many games, as the Saints cut the deficit to one at 6-5. Kirilloff went 2-3, with a double, home run, RBI, and tied a career-high with three runs scored. Kirilloff has five extra base hits in his last nine at bats.

Faria, who had retired 11 in a row at one point, ran into a little trouble in the seventh with Hill singling to left to start the inning. Dixon Machado reached on a bunt single and Hill took third on a throwing error from the third baseman Beckham on the play. Nelson Velazquez' double play scored Hill increasing the lead back up to two at 7-5.

In the bottom of the eighth, the I-Cubs tacked on two insurance run and the first came on a solo homer from Hicks, his seventh of the season, making it 8-5. Deichmann doubled to left and scored on a two-out single from Trent Giambrone putting the I-Cubs up four.

Cave's hitting streak ended at 15 games as he went 0-3 with a walk. He hit .338 (23-68) with three doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 17 RBI during the hitting streak.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the six-game series on Sunday at 1:08 p.m. at Principal Park. The Saints send RHP Cole Sands (0-4, 7.23) to the mound and the I-Cubs are TBA. The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from June 4, 2022


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