Saints Bested By Bats For Second Straight Night, 5-2

_ST. PAUL, MN _*(September 15, 2022) - *Don’t tell the St. Paul Saints the Louisville Bats have the worst record in the International League’s West Division. For the second straight night they fell at CHS Field to the Bats, this time by a final score of 5-2 on Thursday night in front of 5,448.

Mike Siani led off the game with a bloop single to left. With one out, Juniel Querecuto laid down a bunt single to third putting runners at first and second. A wild pitch moved the runners up and a passed ball scored Siani giving the Bats a 1-0 lead.

The Bats grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third when Leonardo Rivas led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a two-out double down the third base line by TJ Hopkins. Saints starter Jordan Balazovic pitched well despite throwing 78 pitches over 4.0 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out six. His ERA continues to fall from 10.75 on August 4 to 7.47. It has gone down in each of his last six outings by at least a quarter of a run each time.

After leaving the bases loaded in the third, the Saints finally broke through in the fourth. With two outs and nobody on, Andrew Bechtold singled through the left side. Elliot Soto followed with a single to left putting runners at first and second. Dalton Shuffield then came through with a two-run double to right-center tying the game at two.

In the fifth, the Bats regained the lead. Leonardo Rivas walked with one out, stole second, and scored on a two-out single from Cristian Santana giving the Bats a 3-2 lead.

The Bats added to the lead in the sixth as Ronnie Dawson led off with a single to right. Michael De Leon followed with a single to center putting runners at the corners. A walk to Mark Kolosvary loaded the bases. Isiah Gilliam’s RBI fielder’s choice made it 4-2 and that was followed by a sacrifice fly from Siani to increase the lead to 5-2.

The Saints had an opportunity in the ninth as Soto led off with a single to right. After Shuffield reached on a fielder’s choice, Matt Wallner walked. Michael Helman then lined a shot to the right side, but it was grabbed by the second baseman Rivas who threw to second for the game ending double play.

The same two teams meet in game four of the six-game series on Friday night at 7:07 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send RHP Mario Sanchez (4-4, 4.39) to the mound against Bats LHP Brandon Williamson (1-4, 4.30). The game can be seen on FOX9+ and MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.