IL St. Paul Saints

Smeltzer Strong, But Saints Offense Stymied in 6-2 Loss to I-Cubs

Published on July 27, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - Devin Smeltzer didn't want to return to the St. Paul Saints this season. For now, however, he's pitching for the team he began the season with. On Tuesday night at CHS Smeltzer was dominant in his 5.0 innings of work, but the Saints offense was kept quiet in a 6-1 loss in front of 7,719.

Smeltzer retired the side in order in the first before making his lone mistake of the night. In the second, Narciso Crook put the I-Cubs on the board first with a solo homer to right, his 14th of the season, making it 1-0.

Smeltzer retired eight in a row from the third inning until two outs in the fifth. After back-to-back singles, he got a fielder's choice to end the fifth inning. Smeltzer went 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out six.

After chances in the second and third inning, the Saints finally tied the game in the fifth. With John Andreoli on at first following a fielder's choice, Spencer Steer singled to center moving Andreoli to second. With two outs, Tim Beckham singled into left scoring Andreoli knotting the game at one.

The I-Cubs grabbed an unearned run in the sixth. With two outs and nobody on Jackson Frazier reached on a fielding error by second baseman Spencer Steer. Darius Hill followed with a single sending Frazier to third. A wild pitch from Drew Strotman scored Frazier putting the I-Cubs up 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Saints snagged their own run with two outs and nobody on. Steer drew the two-out walk and Jake Cave knocked him home with a double down the left field line tying the game at two.

For the second time in the game the I-Cubs answered in their next at bat after a Saints run. With one out, Frazier was hit by a pitch. Pinch runner Zach Davis stole second and Darius Hill's infield single to the pitcher put runners at the corners. Jared Young hit a slow grounder to the first baseman Beckham who came home, but the throw was just a tad late as Davis scored giving the I-Cubs a 3-2 lead.

After a single by Nick Madrigal and a walk to Matt Mervis in the ninth, an hour and five-minute rain delay halted play. When the game resumed, Crook doubled home a pair putting the I-Cubs up 5-2. Pinch hitter Nelson Maldonado walked and a passed ball moved the runners up. A sacrifice fly by Hill scored the final run making it 6-2.

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International League Stories from July 27, 2022


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