Pitching Dominates In Game 2 As Saints Sweep Doubleheader With 4-1 Win

LOUISVILLE, KY (June 4, 2021) - Rob Whalen had effectively retired from baseball following the 2018 season. He came out of retirement this year and after three relief appearances for the St. Paul Saints, was asked to start Game 2 of the doubleheader on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Park. Whalen tossed 3.0 hitless innings as the Saints gave up just one hit in defeating the Louisville Bats 4-1 to sweep the doubleheader. The Saints won Game 1, 2-1, allowing just three hits combined over the 14 innings.

Whalen retired the first five men he faced before walking Michael De Leon with two outs in the second. He got Chris Okey to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

In the third, Whalen walked the leadoff hitter TJ Friedl and, with one out, faced Major League rehabber, Joey Votto. Whalen would strike out Votto before walking Alejo Lopez to put runners at first and second. Whalen got Brantley Bell to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning and his night. He went 3.0 hitless innings while walking three and striking out three.

With the game scoreless in the fifth, the Saints put up a four spot. With one out Drew Maggi doubled to left and then moved up on a wild pitch. Jimmy Kerrigan drew a walk and Keon Broxton gave the Saints a 1-0 lead with an RBI single to short. A walk to David Bañuelos loaded the bases. With two outs, Tomás Telis put the Saints up 3-0 with a two-run single to left. After a pitching change, Brent Rooker’s single to right scored Bañuelos giving the Saints a 4-0 lead.

Saints reliever Danny Coulombe tossed 2.1 perfect innings of relief getting Votto to ground out to second to start the sixth. Ian Hamilton came on in relief and the first batter he faced, Lopez, lined a single into left to break up the no-hitter. With two outs Dwight Smith Jr. hit a pop up into shallow left field that third baseman Damek Tomscha went out to make a play on, but had the ball hit off his glove and fall to the grass for a two-base error. A wild pitch by Hamilton scored Lopez from third to make it 4-1. Hamilton ended the inning by getting Michael De Leon to fly out to left. He would finish it off with a scoreless seventh sending the Saints to a doubleheader sweep.

The same two teams meet in game five of the six-game series on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. central. The Saints send RHP Griffin Jax (3-1, 3.33) to the mound against Bats RHP Ashton Goudeau (1-1, 4.97). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.