Saints Losing Streak Reaches Franchise Record Eight, Lose 8-1 To Storm Chasers

OMAHA, NE (May 17, 2022) - Early in a franchise’s history records will fall. For the St. Paul Saints they just set a new record they’d rather forget about. A 2-1 ballgame turned into a six-run deficit in the blink of an eye and the Saints lost their franchise record eighth straight, 8-1 to the Omaha Storm Chasers on Tuesday night at Werner Park.

In the third the Storm Chasers took the lead, but Chi Chi González did a remarkable job of keeping the damage to a minimum. The Storm Chasers loaded the bases with nobody out on a single, walk and a sacrifice bunt in which Ivan Castillo reached on a throwing error by catcher Caleb Hamilton. González came back and struck out the next two hitters before walking Gabriel Cancel on a 3-2 pitch forcing in a run to make it 1-0. González got the leading home run hitter on the team, Vinnie Pasquantino, to fly out to end the inning.

The Saints tied it in the fifth with a bases loaded walk of their own. Curtis Terry led off with a double. With one out Caleb Hamilton walked. Kevin Merrell singled to load the bases. A fielder’s choice cut down Terry at the plate for out number two, but a walk to Jake Cave forced in a run tying the game at one.

The Storm Chasers answered in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Dairon Blanco led off with a single to center. Nick Pratto’s infield single to third put runners at first and second. Gabriel Cancel moved the runners up with a groundout to third. Vinnie Pasquantino’s sacrifice fly put the Storm Chasers back on top 2-1. González, coming off his last outing in which he pitched 6.0 no-hit innings, threw well on Tuesday going 5.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out six.

The Storm Chasers put the game out of reach in the seventh as they loaded the bases on three consecutive walks to start the inning by Ronny Henriquez.. With one out, Henriquez hit Pasquantino to force in a run making it 3-1. Brewer Hicklen followed that with a grand slam to left, his fourth home run of the season, putting the Storm Chasers up 7-1.

In the eighth the Storm Chasers put the finishing touches on the game by plating their final run. Angelo Castellano reached on a one out single to right. Blanco walked to put runners at first and second. With two outs, Cancel’s RBI double down the first base line scored Castellano increasing the lead to 8-1.

The Saints surpassed their seven-game losing streak from a year ago, when they lost one against the Iowa Cubs at home and were swept by the Toledo Mud Hens in a six game series, from August 22-31.

The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. at Werner Park. The Saints send RHP Jake Faria (0-2, 7.17) to the mound against the Storm Chasers LHP Austin Cox (0-2, 4.76). The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.