There Is Joy In Saintsville, Cave's Grand Slam, Rodríguez' Pitching Helps End Losing Streak In 4-2 Victory

OMAHA, NE (May 21, 2022) - It’s what the St. Paul Saints did with the bases loaded and what the Omaha Storm Chasers couldn’t do with the bases loaded that was the difference in the game on Saturday night at Werner Park. The Saints got a grand slam from Jake Cave and Saints pitchers worked around two, bases loaded no out jams to allow just a pair of runs in a 4-2 victory. The win ends the 11-game losing streak and 12-game road losing streak.

With the Saints leading 4-1 in the ninth inning the Storm Chasers loaded the bases with nobody out against Jordan Gore. Freddy Fermin blooped a single into left-center, JaCoby Jones walked and William Hancock dunked a single into center. Iván Castillo then hit a grounder wide of first that Curtis Terry fielded, but his throw to second bounced in the dirt as Elliot Soto was unable to scoop it. Fermin scored on the play and the bases remained loaded. Nick Pratto then hit a shallow fly to left and Royce Lewis, in his first opportunity of the game, made a running catch for the first out. That brought up Gabriel Cancel who had the walk-off base hit on Wednesday night. He hit a grounder directly to Jermaine Palacios at third. He stepped on third and threw across the diamond for the game ending double play.

The Saints took advantage of their bases loaded opportunity in the first inning. Lewis led off the game with a walk. Alex Kirilloff singled him to second, and Palacios walked to load the bases. Jake Cave cleared the bases with a grand slam to right, his second home run of the season, giving the Saints a 4-0 lead. The grand slam was Cave’s third of his career and first in the Minor Leagues. His two in the Majors came on August 5, 2018 vs. Kansas City and July 26, 2020 at the White Sox.

Saints starter, Dereck Rodríguez was spectacular in his 5.0 innings of work. The lone trouble he ran into came in the second when the Storm Chasers loaded the bases with nobody out. Brewer Hicklen doubled to left-center and that was followed by back-to-back. Rodríguez fanned Jones before giving up his lone run on a William Hancock fielder’s choice, making it 4-1. A groundout by Castillo ended the inning.

Rodríguez struck out five consecutive hitters, fanning the side in the third and the first two batters in the fourth before giving up a single to Fermin. Rodríguez ended the inning by striking out Jones. Rodríguez went 5.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking three and recording a team high nine strikeouts.

The win is the first for the Saints since May 7 when they defeated the Iowa Cubs at CHS Field 9-2. It’s their first road win since April 22 when they won in Toledo 9-4.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. at Werner Park. The Saints send RHP Ronny Henriquez (0-1, 4.61) to the mound against Storm Chasers RHP Daniel Mengden (2-3, 7.48). The game can be heard on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.