Twins Minor League Report (3/31): Saints Fall Flat in Home Opener

TRANSACTIONS

• Before their home opener the St. Paul Saints received C Ian Daugherty from the Wichita Wind Surge.
• SS Harry Genth was transferred from the Wind Surge roster to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

SAINTS SENTINEL
Worcester 19, St. Paul 3
Box Score
The St. Paul Saints swept a three-game series with Indianapolis to open their season on the road over the weekend and sent left-hander Christian MacLeod to the mound for their home opener at CHS Field on Tuesday.

With the early season pitch counts being around 60, the Saints had three pitchers “scheduled” to throw, with Raul Brito and Dan Altavilla to follow MacLeod. Normally you would hope those three could get you through most, if not all, of the game. But that wasn’t in the cards with Twins CEO Tom Pohlad, Assistant GM Alex Hassan, and Director of Player Development Drew MacPhail on hand. I’m blaming this game all on them…

MacLeod gave up a leadoff double to start the game, then got a strikeout for the first out. But a pair of walks, an error from catcher Noah Cardenas, an RBI single, and a three-run homer put the Saints down 5-0 before the lefty could even catch his breath. He picked up a second strikeout but followed it with a walk to put him at 38 pitches and an early call to the bullpen. Right-hander Raul Brito fared slightly better, recording five total outs, but also surrendered back-to-back home runs before the first inning was over. Before the Saints lineup even got a chance, they were down 8-0.

It would get worse.

Second baseman Orlando Arcia did get the Saints on the board in the bottom of the second with his first home run of the season, a solo shot.

Brito made it through the second inning, but Altavilla had to come on with one out in the third. He struck out three Red Sox and got the Saints into the fourth inning but was charged with one earned run because of two walks in his 1 1/3 innings when Matt Bowman allowed an RBI single after relieving him. Bowman would go on to finish the fifth and didn’t allow a run of his own but walked three in his 1 1/3 innings.

In the bottom of the fourth the Saints loaded the bases with nobody out, giving themselves a chance to cut into the big Red Sox lead. Cardenas drew a walk to make it 8-2, bringing Kaelen Culpepper to the plate. He got one more run in, but it came on a double-play grounder that killed much of that momentum.

Trent Baker came on to start the sixth inning and wasn’t able to change any of their pitching fortunes. He struck out one, but allowed two hits, and walked five before Eduardo Salazar became their sixth pitcher of the evening. Before the inning was over it was 19-3 Woo Sox, as Salazar was a victim of a grand slam. The 10 runs allowed in the inning was a franchise record, the first of two infamous ones they accomplished.

Salazar was back out for the seventh and gave the Saints their first one-two-three inning. In the eighth, they turned to position player Tanner Schobel, and he delivered the highlight of the night in my opinion:

He had a huge grin on his face the entire time and I don’t blame him. Got to have fun however you can during a game like this.

Schobel pitched the final two innings, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks. The Saints pitching staff as a whole walked 20 hitters on the game, another franchise record, while striking out nine. 

Culpepper (2-for-5, K) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (2-for-4, R, K) each had two hits to lead the offense. Walker Jenkins finished 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.

The two teams combined for 29 walks compared to only 13 strikeouts. The Saints committed four errors as a team, were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

Throw this one in the dumpster, light it on fire, let the flames burn it from your memory, and then come back tomorrow.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
The Wichita Wind Surge season will kick off on Thursday, April 2nd at home in Equity Bank Park against the NW Arkansas Travelers at 6:35 PM CDT. The Wind Surge roster boasts three of Twins Daily’s Top 20 prospects to begin the year.

KERNELS NUGGETS
The Cedar Rapids Kernels season begins on Friday, April 3rd with them hosting the Peoria Chiefs at 6:05 PM CDT. Left-handed pitcher and Twins Daily’s #6 prospect Dasan Hill will lead the squad onto the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

MUSSEL MATTERS
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels will also start their season on Thursday with a three-game series against the Clearwater Threshers at Hammond Stadium. First pitch in this one is scheduled for 6:05 PM CDT.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Tanner Schobel, St. Paul Saints (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB)
Hitter of the Day – Orlando Arcia, St. Paul Saints (1-for-3, 2 R, HR, RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they performed on Tuesday.

#1 – Walker Jenkins (St. Paul): 0-for-2, 2 BB
#2 – Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul): 2-for-5, K
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul): 2-for-4, R, K
#7 – Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul): 0-for-4, BB

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Worcester @ St. Paul (1:07 PM CDT) - RHP Andrew Bash (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s game! Or, maybe not so much about that game, but the Saints or other Twins minor league questions. 

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!