Saint Paul, Minnesota – The Saints entered play on Sunday with an opportunity to win a series for the first time since opening weekend; however, the Louisville Bats had other plans and pounded out 14 hits. The Saints lost 7-6 to Louisville on Sunday afternoon in front of 5,614. The Saints and Bats split the six-game series. The loss dropped the Saints to 13-18 on the season.

David Festa was strong early as he had been in all six of his previous starts. In all his previous starts he had taken a no-decision. He faced four batters in the second inning. Three of the four batters Festa struck out. However, Edwin Rios hit a ball that got caught up in the breeze, which propelled the ball into the bullpen in left field. The Bats took a 1-0 lead. Louisville got to him in the third. Austin Wynns singled to start the inning. Next, Hernan Perez doubled off the left-center field wall. The ball just stayed inside the ballpark bouncing off the top of the wall and back into play. This allowed Wynns to come around from first to score. Perez stole third base and scored on an RBI single from TJ Friedl (MLB Rehab Assignment). The Bats continued to hit Festa around and took a 4-0 lead.

Lyon Richardson held the Saints hitless until the third when DaShawn Keirsey Jr. singled to left. With two outs, Wallner singled to right, which advanced Keirsey to third. On April 16th Matt Wallner was optioned to the Saints because he had struggled at the plate for the Twins. This week Wallner had found his swing. He hit a home run in three of the last four games. This is the second time in his career he has carried out that feat. The only Saint to hit home runs in four consecutive games was Drew Maggi in 2021. Finally, Michael Helman got the Saints on the board when he doubled down the left field line. Next, Alex Isola picked up his pitcher with a blast to tie the game at four. David Festa came back out to work the fourth with a clean slate. The game was tied at four.

Louisville took a 5-4 lead when Perez hit a ball almost to the exact same spot in the fourth. This time the ball was a few feet deeper and just out of the reach of Keirsey. That was the knockout punch for Festa. Festa lasted 3.1 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. He struck out eight Bats players on Sunday afternoon. Ronny Henriquez came on in relief and allowed an additional run. Louisville led 6-4.

The Saints were down 7-4 when Justin Topa (MLB Rehab Assignment) entered the game in the sixth. Topa worked a solid inning. He allowed zero runs on one hit and stuck out one.

Wallner was unable to join the elite club of Saints to hit a home run in four consecutive games; however, he was close. In the seventh, he hit a towering ball down the right field line; however, it was a foul ball by a matter of a few feet.  

The Saints tried to rally late but were unable to complete the comeback.

The Saints will have Monday while traveling to Toledo, Ohio to begin a six-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) on Tuesday night. First pitch from Fifth Third Field is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. (CT). Both teams are TBA. The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM. The Saints return home on Tuesday May 14th to start a series against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals).