Saints Blanked For First Time This Season 6-0 To I-Cubs

ST. PAUL, MN (April 12, 2024) - It’s not as if the St. Paul Saints didn’t have opportunities. They had two guys thrown out at the plate and had the bases loaded, but couldn’t come up with a big hit. On the other side of the ball, they gave up four home runs and were shutout for the first time this season losing 6-0 to the Iowa Cubs on Friday night at CHS Field in front of 7,068.

The I-Cubs jumped out to a lead three batters into the game. With one out Alexander Canario singled to left-center and that was followed by a two-run homer to right-center from Matt Mervis, his second of the season, giving the I-Cubs a 2-0 lead.

The Saints knew it would be a tall task offensively facing Major League rehabber Jameson Taillon, but their first opportunity to score came in the first when Jair Camargo singled and Yunior Severino followed with a double. Camargo tried to score from first but was thrown out at the plate.

In the second Luis Vazquez gave the I-Cubs a 3-0 lead with a solo homer to right, his third of the season.

The Saints loaded the bases in the fourth when Camargo reached on a fielding error by the shortstop Vazquez, Patrick Winkel singled with one out, and with two outs Diego A. Castillo reached on a fielding error by the third baseman B.J. Murray Jr. loading the bases. That was the last batter Taillon faced and Hayden Wesneski took over. Yoyner Fajardo bounced out to first ending the inning. Taillon went 3.2 shutout innings allowing three hits while walking one and striking out four.

The I-Cubs hit their third long ball of the game in the fifth as Mervis went deep for the second time in the game, a solo shot to right, his third of the season, making it 4-0.

In the sixth the Saints had their second runner thrown out at the plate. With two outs Chris Williams singled, moved to second on a single by Castillo, and then Fajardo singled to left, but Williams was cut down at the plate.

Josh Staumont threw his second game for the Saints on Major League rehab and blew away three hitters in the seventh. He struck out all three batters throwing 14 pitches, nine for strikes.

In the eighth the I-Cubs hit their fourth home run of the night, this time an inside-the-park home run. With two outs Owen Caissie walked. Murray Jr. then ripped a shot into the right-center field gap. The ball got lodged under the padding and right fielder Yoyner Fajardo threw his hands in the air signaling a dead ball. No call was made, and Fajardo eventually picked up the ball, but by the time he got the ball to the infield Murray Jr. raced around for an inside-the-park home run, his first of the season, giving the I-Cubs a 6-0 lead.

The same two teams meet in game five of a six-game series at CHS Field at 6:37 p.m. Both teams are TBA. The game can be seen on the CW Network, MLB.TV, MiLB.TV, and the Bally Live app, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.