Saints Bats Silenced By Bats In 6-1 Loss To Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY (June 6, 2021) - Overall, it was a solid 12-game roadtrip for the St. Paul Saints as they took eight of the 12 games. Unfortunately, they couldn’t finish on a positive note as they managed just three hits in a 6-1 loss to the Louisville Bats on Sunday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field. The loss drops the Saints to 15-15.

Both teams went bullpen by committee as the Saints original starter, Bailey Ober, was starting for the Twins on Sunday and the Bats original starter, Riley O’Brien, pitched on Wednesday because of the Tuesday rainout.

The Saints took a 1-0 lead in the third when Keon Broxton led off with a single to left, stole second, and scored on a two-out single from Tomás Telis.

Robinson Leyer got the start for the Saints and was solid in his 3.0 innings of work, but made one mistake to a Major League rehabber. With two outs in the third, Alejo Lopez walked and Major League rehabber Aristedes Aquino drilled a two-run homer to left, his first during his rehab, to put the Bats up 2-1. Leyer went 3.0 innings allowing two runs on one hit while walking two and striking out two.

In the fourth, Saints reliever Tom Hackimer struggled with his control. In 0.2 inning he allowed three runs without giving up a hit, but his six walks and a wild pitch contributed to three runs scoring and the Saints were down 5-1.

Derek Law took over for the Saints in fifth and his lone blemish was a two-out solo homer to right from TJ Friedl, his third of the season, to make it 6-1. Law went 2.0 innings allowing one run on three hits.

Matt Mullenbach, whom the Twins signed on Friday from the Independent Frontier Leaguer, and was promoted the next day saw his first action at Triple-A. He was fantastic going 2.0 shutout innings allowing two hits and walking one.

The Saints are off on Monday and begin a six-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against the Omaha Storm Chasers. Both teams are TBA. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.