Albers Brilliant, But Saints Walked-Off For Second Straight Game, Lose 3-2 In Game Two Of Doubleheader

DES MOINES, IA (July 11, 2021) - Getting walked off when you don’t collect a hit is one thing, but when you take the lead into the last half inning and then lose, that might hurt more. The St. Paul Saints squandered a gem from Andrew Albers as they gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh and lost game two of the doubleheader in walk-off fashion 3-2 on Sunday evening at Principal Park to the Iowa Cubs.

With the Saints up 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the last inning of the doubleheader, Nick Vincent came on to close the game out. He didn’t record an out as the I-Cubs got back-to-back pinch-hit singles by Vance Vizcaino and Andrew Romine to put runners at the corners. Vincent then hit Trent Giambrone to load the bases. Abiatal Avelino collected a two-run single to left-center that ended the game.

Albers was great all game with his only blip coming in the first. The I-Cubs jumped out to the 1-0 lead when Avelino doubled to left and scored on a two-out single by Michael Hermosillo.

The Saints finally collected their first hit in 8.1 innings when Sherman Johnson tripled into the left field corner with one out in the second. Roberto Peña followed with a walk and Keon Broxton’s sacrifice fly tied the game at one. David Bañuelos then hit a ground ball to short that was dropped by Avelino for an error putting runners at first and second. Jose Miranda gave the Saints a 2-1 lead with an RBI single to right.

Albers walked the first two hitters in the second, the first time he’s walked back-to-back hitters all season, but got out of it with a sacrifice bunt, a comebacker, and a fly out.

Albers, who struck out two in the first, also fanned two in the third, fourth, and sixth, and one in the fifth. He went 6.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out nine, the third most of his career, and most since August 5, 2017 when he struck out a career tying high 10 while with Gwinnett against Charlotte.

The Saints have Monday off and are back in action on Tuesday night against the Columbus Clippers at 7:05 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints are TBA and the Clippers send RHP J.C. Mejia (0-0, 2.00). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.