Short-Handed Saints Fall Just Shy In 4-3 Loss To I-Cubs

ST. PAUL, MN (April 13, 2024) - Catcher Jair Camargo and pitcher Matt Bowman went up to the Minnesota Twins. Infielder Michael Helman landed on the injured list. The St. Paul Saints battled on Saturday afternoon, struck out 15 Iowa Cubs for the third time in the last five games, but finished a run short in a 4-3 loss in front of 6,843 at CHS Field.

Local product Aaron Rozek, who went to Burnsville High School and became the fifth Minnesota product to play for the Saints, made his first Triple-A appearance as he got the start. For the fourth time in five games the I-Cubs got on the board first in the first. With one out Major League rehabber Patrick Wisdom doubled to right-center. That was followed by a two-run homer from Matt Mervis, his fourth of the season and third in the last two games, making it 2-0.

The I-Cubs added to their lead in the second on three straight singles by Jake Slaughter, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Wisdom with the latter scoring a run making it 3-0. Rozek went 3.0 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.

Reliever Ryan Jensen did all he could to keep the Saints in the game. He set a career-high with 2.2 innings of relief and tied a career-high with 48 pitches out of the bullpen. He was simply masterful allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out a career-high six in relief.

The Saints snapped a 14-inning scoreless streak in the fifth inning. With one out Will Holland reached on an infield single to third and with two outs DaShawn Keirsey Jr. blasted a two-run homer to left-center, his third of the season, getting the Saints to within 3-2.

One inning later and the Saints knotted the game at three when Chris Williams led off with a double and scored two batters later on a one out double by Alex Isola making it 3-3.

The I-Cubs regained the lead in the eighth as Ali Sánchez led off the inning with a single that glanced off the glove of third baseman Tanner Morris. The pinch runner Darius Hill advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by pitcher Scott Blewett. Chase Strumpf then sent one into center field for an RBI single giving the I-Cubs a 4-3 lead.

The Saints had a chance in the bottom of the ninth to tie it when Diego A. Castillo reached on a one out fielding error by Wisdom at third. After a fielder’s choice put Keirsey Jr. at first, he swiped second, but Yunior Severino struck out looking to end the game.

Overall, the Saints bullpen went 6.0 innings allowing one unearned run on five hits while walking three and striking out 12.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:07 p.m. The Saints send RHP Caleb Boushley (1-1, 7.84) to the mound against I-Cubs RHP Sam McWilliams (0-0, 5.73). The game can be seen on the CW Network, MLB.TV, MiLB.TV, the Bally Live app, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.