Pitching Leads Way For Saints In 7-1 Victory Over Bisons

BUFFALO, NY (June 23, 2022) - The St. Paul Saints pitching staff proved exactly what they are capable of on Thursday afternoon at Sahlen Field. After failing to hold late leads in the first two games of the series, four pitchers combined to allow just one run in a 7-1 victory over the Buffalo Bisons.

Jordan Balazovic got the start and tossed one of his most impressive outings of the season. He faced the minimum in his 3.0 innings of work. In the first, he allowed a one out double to Samad Taylor, but the Saints were able to erase him on a double play to end the inning. After retiring the side in order in the second, Balazovic gave up a one out double in the third. A pop out double play ended the inning. Balazovic went 3.0 shutout inning allowing two hits while striking out three.

The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third courtesy of the top of the order. Spencer Steer led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Jake Cave, who extended his streak of reaching base safely to 38 consecutive games with a first inning walk, singled to left moving Steer to third. With one out, Roy Morales dropped an RBI single into center field scoring Steer to put the Saints on top.

The lone run the Bisons got came in the fourth against reliever Wladimir Pinto. With one out, Taylor walked. With two outs Stevie Berman doubled down the left field line that scored Taylor.

Dereck Rodríguez pitched the bulk of the innings for the Saints and he was magnificent in his 4.0 innings of work. He retired the first six hitters he faced and the first runner to reach against him came on an error to start the seventh. With one out, Rodríguez walked Logan Warmoth to put runners on first and second. Rodríguez settled down and got a fly out and groundout to end the inning.

In the seventh, the Saints took the lead courtesy of two, three-run homers. Michael Helman led off the inning with a hit by pitch. Helman stole second and with one out Braden Bishop walked. The two pulled off a double steal putting runners at second and third. Steer then crushed a three-run homer to left, his 10th of the season, putting the Saints up 4-1. With two outs Jermaine Palacios singled and Morales was hit by a pitch. Caleb Hamilton then lined a three-run homer just over the left field wall, his seventh of the season, making it 7-1.

Rodríguez finished off his day with a scoreless eighth allowing just a two out single. He finished the day going 4.0 shutout innings allowing one hit while walking one and striking out three.

Austin Schulfer finished off the day tossing a scoreless ninth giving up one hit and striking out two.

The same two teams meet in game four of the six-game series on Friday night at 6:07 p.m. at Sahlen Field. The Saints send RHP Cole Sands (0-4, 6.35) to the mound against Bisons LHP Brandon Eisert (2-1, 4.10). The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.