Saints Reverse Script, Score Runs Early In 8-4 Win Over Bisons

BUFFALO, NY *(June 4, 2023) - *The St. Paul Saints decided to use up all their offense early in the game instead of scoring late. A big six-run third inning was more than enough for the Saints who took five-of-six from the Buffalo Bisons with an 8-4 victory at Sahlen Field on Sunday afternoon. The win is the seventh in the last eight games for the Saints and increase their record to a season-high nine games over .500 at 32-23.

Matt Wallner continued his torrid week in the first inning. Andrew Stevenson led off with a single to right-center. He took second on a groundout, and scored on a 109.6 mph double to right-center by Matt Wallner giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.

Major League rehabber Kenta Maeda tossed a scoreless first inning as he pitched around a couple of singles.

In the second, however, he wasn’t as fortunate. After striking out the leadoff hitter, Maeda gave up a single to LJ Talley and that was followed by a two-run home run to left-center by Luis De Los Santos, his first of the season, putting the Bisons up 2-1. Maeda came back to strike out the next two hitters looking to end the inning.

The Saints didn’t trail long as the first eight hitters in the third all reached base safely. Stevenson led off with a triple to right and scored on a single to left-center by Miranda tying the game at two. After a walk to Trevor Larnach, Wallner doubled down the right field line scoring Miranda putting the Saints up 3-2. Wallner went 2-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Edouard Julien followed with a three-run home run to left-center, his fifth of the season, making it 6-2 Saints. The Saints then loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Mark Contreras and Alex De Goti and a hit by pitch to Tony Wolters. The final run of the inning scored when Elliot Soto grounded into a double play increasing the lead to 7-2.

Maeda finished his afternoon in the third after giving up a leadoff single to left, he retired the next three hitters on a pop out, ground out, and a lineout. Maeda went 3.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. He threw 45 pitches, 29 for strikes. He threw 13 fastballs averaging 89.5 miles per hour and topping out at 90.7 mph.

In the fourth, the Saints put their final run on the board. Miranda reached on an infield single to second and scored on a two-out double to right-center by Julien making it 8-2. Julien finished the game 2-4 with a double, home run, four RBI, and a run scored.

Saints starter Brent Headrick pitched the bulk of the game following Maeda and a scoreless inning of relief by Connor Sadzeck. Headrick allowed just one hit over his first two innings of relief before running into control problems in the sixth. With one out, Headrick walked back-to-back hitters and then walked a third batter with two outs to load the bases. He got out of the inning without allowinga run on a flyout to left.

The Bisons grabbed a run in the eighth when Rob Brantly led off with a single and scored on a one out double from LJ Talley making it 8-3.

In the ninth, the Bisons grabbed one more run when Rafael Lantigua led off with a double, moved to third on an infield single by Spencer Horwitz, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wynton Bernard making it 8-4. Headrick went 5.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits while walking four and striking out four.

The Saints have Monday off and return to action on Tuesday night at CHS Field in game one of a six-game series against the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs). Both teams are TBA. The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, the Bally Live app (free), and MiLB.TV (subscription), and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.