Saints Five-Run Lead Disappears Late In 8-7 Loss To Bisons

BUFFALO, NY (June 21, 2022) - The St. Paul Saints scored seven runs against the second best pitching team in the league, the Buffalo Bisons who entered play with a 3.96 ERA. Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn’t hold a five-run lead over the final three innings as the Bisons scored seven runs in their final three at bats, including the go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the eighth in an 8-7 loss on Tuesday night at Sahlen Field.

With the Saints up 7-4 in the eighth with two outs and nobody on, Jovani Moran walked the number eight hitter Chavez Young. Nick Podkul followed with an RBI double to right making it 7-5. Nathan Lukes walked and that brought he go-ahead run to the plate. Yennier Cano took over and he gave up a three-run homer to Samad Taylor, his second of the game and seventh of the season, to give the Bisons an 8-7 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

For the first time in eight games neither the Saints nor their opponent scored in the first, but in the third the Saints got it going. With one out, John Andreoli and Spencer Steer walked. Michael Helman hit a grounder to third and Tanner Morris’ throw to second was dropped by Taylor for an error that loaded the bases. The Saints capitalized on the mistake as Tim Beckham cleared the bases with a double down the right field line making it 3-0. Mark Contreras followed with a walk and, with two outs, Jermaine Palacios brought them both home with a double off the wall in left increasing the lead to 5-0.

The Bisons got one back in the bottom of the inning when former Saints catcher Stevie Berman homered to left, his third of the season, making it 5-1.

In the fifth the Saints got a run, but probably should have had four. They loaded the bases with nobody out on a Beckham single and back-to-back walks to Contreras and Caleb Hamilton. That brought up Palacios who drilled a shot towards the wall in left-center. Chavez Young raced back and leaped over the wall to rob Palacios of his first career grand slam. Beckham tagged from third to score and give the Saints a 6-1 lead.

Taylor made it 6-2 in the sixth with a leadoff home run, his sixth of the season.

Palacios would get his revenge on the Bisons as he hit a two-run solo homer to left in the seventh, his fifth of the season, giving the Saints a 7-2 lead. Palacios went 2-3 with a double, home run, four RBI, and a run scored.

In the bottom of the inning the Bisons grabbed two runs and loaded the bases without a hit. Back-to-back hit by pitches followed by a walk loaded the bases. Taylor made it 7-3 with a sacrifice fly and Jordan Groshans RBI single cut the Saints lead to 7-4.

The same two teams meet in game two of the six-game series on Wednesday night at Sahlen Field at 6:05 p.m. (CT). The Saints send Major League rehabber Josh Winder (0-0, 6.75) to the mound and against Bisons RHP Casey Lawrence (8-1, 1.77). The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.