Five-Run First Too Much For Saints To Overcome In 7-3 Loss To Clippers

COLUMBUS, OH *(May 21, 2023) - *One inning made a huge difference in Sunday afternoon’s series finale at Huntington Park. The St. Paul Saints gave up five runs in the first and could never come back, losing 7-3 to the Columbus Clippers. The loss drops the Saints to 23-20.

The game started off on the right note for the Saints as they grabbed a run in the first. Andrew Stevenson extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single to center. He stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice lineout by Jose Miranda making it 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long as the Clippers sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs in the bottom of the inning against Randy Dobnak. The first three hitters all singled: Richie Palacios, Brayan Rocchio, and Zach Collins with the latter driving in a run. After a fielder’s choice erased the runner at second to put runners at the corners, Micah Pries was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Daniel Schneeman gave the Clippers a 3-1 lead with a two-run single to right-center. With two outs, Reynel Delgado made it 5-1 with a two-run double to left-center.

The Saints turned to their bullpen for the final seven innings of the game and they were tremendous. The Clippers got to Ronny Henriquez in the second, but after that they shut it down. Palacios led off with a walk and two batters later Collins made it 7-1 with a two-run homer to center, his ninth of the season.

Jair Camargo launched a solo homer to right-center in the top of the third, his fourth of the season, getting the Saints to within 7-2.

The Saints got another solo homer in the seventh from Chris Williams, his fifth of the season, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

After the second inning the Saints bullpen of Henriquez, Austin Brice, Austin Schulfer, Oliver Ortega, and Cody Laweryson, worked 6.0 hitless, shutout innings while walking two and striking out seven.

Royce Lewis went 0-4 in his fourth Major League rehab game with the Saints.

The Saints didn’t leave a runner on base for the first time in franchise history. The first inning single scored, the two home runs, and the second inning single was erased on a double play were the only base runners the Saints had on Sunday.

The Saints are off Monday and return to action on Tuesday beginning a six-game homestand against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Roylas) at 11:07 a.m. Both teams are TBA. The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, the Bally Live app (free), and MiLB.TV (subscription), and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7.