Saints Blast Four Home Runs, Finish Off Six-Game Sweep Of I-Cubs, 7-3

DES MOINES, IA (May 30, 2021) - The St. Paul Saints made themselves right at home in Principal Park. They slugged four more home runs, including a career tying high two from JT Riddle, and got superb relief from Ian Hamilton, Shaun Anderson, and Rob Whalen to knock off the Iowa Cubs 7-3 at Principal Park on Sunday afternoon. The win was the seventh straight for the Saints and they improved to 13-11 on the season.

The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Ryan Jeffers walked with two outs and Mark Contreras followed with an RBI double that hit the chalk down the left field line.

The I-Cubs finally got to Bailey Ober in the fourth as Dee Strange-Gordon led off with a bloop single to center. Trayce Thompson then drilled a double high off the center field wall putting runners at second and third. Taylor Gushue gave the I-Cubs a 2-1 lead with a two-run double down the first base line. With one out, Abiatal Avelino made it 3-1 with a double over the head of Keon Broxton in center. Ober went 4.0 innings allowing three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out eight.

The Saints wasted little time in regaining the lead by hitting back-to-back home runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, Daniel Descalso ended an 0-30 skid when he popped up a ball on the left side that third baseman Avelino and shortstop Strange-Gordon miscommunicated on, and the ball fell between the two of them. With two outs, JT Riddle drilled a two-run homer to left, his second of the season, tying the game at three. Brent Rooker then crushed his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to straightaway center, giving the Saints a 4-3 lead.

The Saints added to their lead in the eighth when Ryan Jeffers hit a hanging breaking ball over the left-center field wall, his fifth of the season, to give the Saints a two-run lead.

Riddle came calling again in the ninth. After Keon Broxton reached on a fielding error by Avelino at third, Riddle drilled a two-run homer to right, his second of the game and third of the season. He finished the day 2-5 with two home runs and four RBI. The two home runs tied a career high. The only other time Riddle had two home runs was July 31, 2015 at Double-A Jacksonville in the Miami Marlins organization.

The bullpen was spectacular in relief of Ober. Ian Hamilton tossed 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings while walking one and striking out two, Shaun Anderson pitched a hitless inning while walking one and Rob Whalen went 2.0 scoreless innings giving up a single while walking two and striking out three.

The Saints have Monday off and return to action on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. central against the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds) at Louisville Slugger Park. The Saints send LHP Charlie Barnes (2-0, 3.05) to the mound against Bats RHP Riley O’Brien (0-1, 2.86). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.