John Clinger

Camargo “Catches” Williams in Season-Ender 2023 Season: Game 148 Recap – Sept. 24 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Jair Camargo laughed when I asked him about fellow Saints catcher Chris Williams’ special request of him last Wednesday night. “Just doubles and triples for the rest of the week,” so that Williams could keep the team’s triple-A season home run record of 21 that he had just set. Williams had just passed Brent Rooker for the most 4-baggers in St. Paul’s three-year affiliation with the Minnesota Twins. “I told Chris today that my family was here and they wanted me to get another one,” Camargo said. “So I told Chris I’ll talk to Toby (manager Toby Gardenhire) about getting you about another at-bat.” But there will not be another at-bat for anybody this year, as the Saints’ season ended with a 3-2 loss to the Toledo MudHens yesterday (Sunday). After Camargo’s 2-run blast in the 5th inning, he and Williams share the record of 21 home runs until at least next year – when both hope they won’t get another chance, as a result of making it to the big leagues. As Twins injury rehabber Byron Buxton’s potential game-tying home run settled in the leftfielder’s glove at the fence for the final out of the season, the Saints capped a season in which they finished second in both halves of the International League’s West division (43-31, 41-33), and third overall in the IL (84-64) – 5½ games behind Norfolk of the Baltimore Orioles organization. The kingpins of Major League Baseball really messed this season up by deciding there would be a two-team playoff in the International League, despite there being 20 teams in the league. (Imagine a major league season before the playoffs system began. Even if there were only four teams playing on this year, the Saints would have been one of them. So the 2023 Saints season is in the books. Humans like the 6,003 (“announced” attendance) on hand yesterday under 66-degree, partly-cloudy skies after Saturday night’s rainout looked like they had a lot of fun watching the local lads perform this year while taking in the 30th year of independent, then minor league ball in St. Paul. (Be sure to watch the just-released Netflix documentary, “Saint of Second Chances.) I am grateful to have renewed my sportswriting chops after a 42-year hiatus chasing family and career interests. Thanks to Sean Aaronsen for the press pass and great window seat. I will continue posting occasionally on gzrnetwork.com (you can also look up “Balls, Bats and Bases: St. Paul Saints Style”). I’m not sophisticated enough to have set up a feedback option on my blog, but you can email me at johnclinger@gmail.com. Thanks for reading.

A Trivia Question for You Saints Fans Out There 2023 Season: Game 147 Recap – Sept. 22 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER What do the Cleveland Guardians, Albuquerque Isotopes and St. Paul Saints have in common? Hint: It’s a grand distinction. With Michael Helmon providing the muscle, the Saints joined the Guardians and Isotopes last night (Friday) as the only teams to hit 14th grand slam home runs in season in American professional baseball history since records started being kept in 2005. Helman’s blast off the batter’s eye wall in centerfield led the Saints to their fourth straight win, 10-6, over the Toledo MudHens in front of an announced crowd of 7,517 radiation-free (presumably) humans at CHS Field. The triple-A Saints scored 7 runs in the 2nd inning, with Prato hammering a 2-run roundtripper to go with Helmon’s blast. Severino added a solo blast in the 3rd. Chris Williams and Jair Camargo have hit 3 grand salamis for the Saints this season, and Helman’s was his 2nd. Single 4-run pokes have come from Contreras, Wallner, Stevenson, Garlick, Lee and Larnach. Three Twins players saw major league rehab action. Stewart pitched a scoreless inning and Contreras 2 innings. Dee Gordon played 2nd base and went 0-for-3 at the plate. The season-ending series continues tonight (Saturday) at 6:37 p.m. Sunday’s season finale will begin at 12:07 p.m. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Dobnak Sharp, Saints’ Hitting Timely in 4-2 Win over MudHens 2023 Season: Game 146 Recap – Sept. 21 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER The Saints faced two former Minnesota Twins pitchers last night (Thursday) at CHS Field. One kept them off the scoreboard for six innings. The other -- not so much. And when the visiting Toledo MudHens were at bat, the Saints had an ex-Twin of their own on the mound. This one went the Saints’ way. Randy Dobnak pitched 6 innings and gave up just one run on 3 hits, striking out 7 MudHens, and the Saints rallied to win, 4-2. And oh, by the way, present Twin Byron Buxton contributed to the victory in his first night of a “major league rehab” (MLR) assignment. With wins the last three nights, the Saints are halfway to a sweep of their final series of the season. Their record stands at 83-63 in the triple-A International League. The Saints scored 4 runs in the 7th to overtake the visitors, but not until after their first ex-Twins mound opponent, Bryan Sammons (drafted by Minnesota in 2017), left with a 1-0 lead. Sammons gave up only 4 hits and struck out 8 batters in his 6-inning shutout effort. Enter Andrew Vasquez, another former Twins draft pick (2015) who actually made it to the big leagues with the Twins in 2018. He inherited a 2-0 lead because the MudHens scored a run off Bechtold in the top of the 7th. Vasquez didn’t help himself with a hit batsman and a wild pitch in his two-thirds of an inning, but he also was victimized by a horrible error and the Saints didn’t exactly tear the cover off the ball. Lee started the winning rally in the bottom of the 7th with a sharp single to left on the first pitch of Vasquez’s appearance. Garlick hit a grounder to third base and the fielder tried to force Lee out at 2nd, but the throw sailed 10 feet wide of the bag and way into right field, allowing Lee to score and Garlick to reach 3rd. Vasquez hit the next batter, Camargo, to put him on 1st, then threw his next pitch to the backstop. Garlick raced home to tie the game, 2-2. Vasquez’s troubles were only half over. After striking out Celestino, he yielded a single to Perez that brought Camargo home. Then the Toledo hurler gave up a single to Helman, ending his night. Hill was brought in to replace Vasquez and face Buxton. Buxton brought the announced crowd of 6,547 humans to their feet with a soft single that scored Perez with the fourth run. Buxton exited for a pinch runner and wound up going 1-for-4 including two strikeouts against the Automatic Ball-Strike system. The season-ending series continues tonight (Friday) at 6:37 p.m. Saturday’s game will also start at 6:37 and Sunday’s season finale will begin at 12:07 p.m. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

“Just Doubles and Triples,” Williams Asks of Teammate; Saints Win, 6-3 2023 Season: Game 144 Recap – Sept. 20 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER After hitting a Saints triple-A franchise record 21st home run of the season last night (Wednesday) at CHS Field, Chris Williams asked teammate Jair Camargo for a small favor. “Just doubles and triples for the rest of the week,” Williams requested of Camargo. “We laughed about it.” Before Williams’ 21st, Camargo (2023) and Brent Rooker (2021) shared the record with Williams. The Saints defeated the Toledo MudHens, 6-3, with Williams’ 3-run blast to left field putting them ahead to stay. Their record improved to 82-63 (39-32 in the season’s 2nd half) with four games left. The local lads had hoped to win the 2nd half, then an International League playoff against Norfolk. That outcome would have sent the Saints, as sole representative of the 20-team Il, to Las Vegas for the overall triple-A championship series against the 10-team California League winner. (20 IL teams, 10 Cali teams, one team from each league in the playoffs. Yeah, that makes sense!) “Now instead of going to Las Vegas we’re going to try to win six games and finish the season strong,” Williams said. To show you the team-first, statistics-don’t-matter attitude of these young major league aspirants, Williams was shocked to learn how many grand slam home runs the team has hit – 13, an International League record going back to at least the beginning of the statcast era in 2005. “I would have guessed about 7,” Williams postulated. “That’s crazy.” He praised the Saints’ coaches for the team’s grand salami success, which at 13 is the best at any level of American baseball this year. Camargo and Williams each have 3 slams, so Camargo may at least tie Williams there even if he can only muster doubles and triples the rest of the way. Shortstop Lee would have been the second star if this were hockey. Lee drove in one run with a double in the first and deposited a towering solo homer onto the roof behind the Spire porch. Saints starter Woods Richardson went two outs into the 6th inning and notched his 7th win in his last 8 decisions. He gave up 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings, walked 2 batters and struck out 4. A Saints double play saved him in the 5th inning after the first batters hit a double and a single. The season-ending series continues tonight (Thursday) at 6:37 p.m. Friday and Saturday games will also start at 6:37, and Sunday’s season finale will begin at 12:07 p.m. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Camargo, Paddack Lead Saints Past MudHens, 4-2 2023 Season: Game 144 Recap – Sept. 19 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Jair Camargo, he of the grand slam, joined Chris Williams with 20 home runs on the season to help the Saints dunk the MudHens of Toledo, 4-2, last night (Tuesday) at CHS Field. Camargo’s shot in the 2nd inning was of the two-run variety and staked the Saints to a 2-0 lead. Gallo and Larnach singled in the 4th to drive in the other two runs, which they would need when Dingler of the MudHens went yard in the top of the 9th to narrow Toledo’s deficit to two runs. Camargo (3) and Williams (2), both catchers, have five of the Saints’ 13 grand slams this year and 40 of the team’s 199 homers. Not to brag for the Saints, but the 13 grand salamis are the most at any level of American baseball this year and the most in the most in the triple-A International League since at least 2005. Chris Paddack, one of five Twins players on rehab assignments with the Saints, pitched three scoreless, hitless innings, walking one batter and striking out seven of them. He was the only pitcher to go more than one inning as the Saints used McMahon, Schulfer, Boyle, Stewart, Alcala (all scoreless) and Balazovic to get three outs apiece. Balazovic got into trouble by walking the first two batters he faced in the 9th, got a reprieve on a crucial double play (St. Paul’s fourth) before allowing the 2-run homer, and finally, ended the game with a strikeout. The Saints snapped the 5-game losing streak that last week eliminated them from playoffs contention. They improved their record to 81-63 overall and 38-32 in the second half. The season-ending series continues tonight (Wednesday) at 6:37 p.m. Game Thursday through Saturday will also start at 6:37 and Sunday’s season finale at 12:07 p.m. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Saints To Open Season’s Last Series at CHS Field Tuesday 2023 Season: Game 139-144 Recaps – Game Dates September 12-17, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER (Out of the triple-A International League playoffs with a 37-32 record in the season’s second half (80-63 overall), the Saints begin a 6-game home stand to close out the year Tuesday (tomorrow) at 6:37 p.m. against the Toledo MudHens. Game times: 6:37 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 12:07 p.m. Sunday.) Cubs 1, Saints 0 Sunday, Sept. 17 An errant throw to 1st base on a double play attempt in the 2nd innings plated the only run as the Saints dropped their fifth game in a row, 1-0, to the host Iowa Cubs yesterday (Sunday). The loss spoiled an otherwise great outing by Saints starter Festa and relievers Headrick, Boyle and Sands. They yielded only 3 hits (all in the 2nd inning) and 3 walks while striking out 9 Cubs. Cubs 7, Saints 5 Saturday, Sept. 16 Triple-A baseball has a pretty screwy playoffs format this season, with only two International League teams that will play for the right to meet a California League team for the title in the highest class under the major leagues. The Saints, with the third-best record among all 20 IL teams, are out of the playoffs hunt after losing to the Iowa Cubs, 7-5, last night (Saturday) in Des Moines. The Saints played the type of game that will usually get you beat. They committed three errors and managed just one extra-base hit among six safeties. Saints starter Murphy gave up 7 hits including a double, triple and home run. Recent double-A promote Festa (1-0, 2.79) will take the mound at 1:08 p.m. as the Saints try to end a 4-game losing streak. Cubs 7, Saints 6 Friday, Sept. 15 Trevor Larnach, the Twins’ top draft pick in 2018 whose MLB career was interrupted in 2022 by an injury, is having quite a season with the triple-A Saints. He ranks 6th in the International League in OPS at 1.155 and 10th in batting at .366. His 3-run homer, 15th for the season, in the 9th inning last night (Friday) pulled the Saints within one run, but the Iowa Cubs held on for a 7-6 win. It was the Saints’ 6th straight loss. Although they are out of the IL playoffs chase, they can still win the Western Division over the final 8 games of the season. Two Twins players began injury rehab assignments. Brock Stewart pitched one scoreless inning and utility player Nick Gordon went hitless in three at-bats. Two games remain in Des Moines before the Saints close out the season with a 6-game home series against the Toledo Mudhens starting Tuesday, Sept. 19. The Cubs 9, Saints 3 Thursday, Sept. 14 The Saints dropped their third in a row to the Iowa I-Cubs, 9-3, yesterday (Thursday) in Des Moines to fall 6 games out of the lone remaining triple-A International League playoffs spot with only 9 games left to go in the regular season. Randy Dobnak, the former Twins starter, broke Ronny Henriquez’s record of 106 strikeouts in a season since the Saints became affiliated with the Twins in 2021. He has 109 now. Also for the Saints, Camargo smashed his 19th home run of the season and Lee lashed a pair of doubles. Cubs 4, Saints 3 Wednesday, Sept. 13 Saints hurler Simeon Woods Richardson, who was benched from one start in June and since then had compiled a 2.97 earned run average, was sharp again yesterday (Wednesday), but his teammates could muster only three runs, and St. Paul fell to the I-Cubs in Des Moines, 4-3. Without going 10-0, or close to that, for the rest of the season, the Saints have little chance of a playoff spot in the triple-A International League. They trail three teams by 1 to 5 games. Woods Richardson worked the first 5 innings and gave up just one run, walking 3 batters and striking out 5. Two-way player Bechtold, who is trying to establish himself as a pitcher, entered the game in relief in the 6th with a 2-1 lead and gave up 3 earned runs while facing only 6 batters. The Saints came up short after that, scoring 1 additional run and just missing 2 more on a line drive to the warning track that the centerfielder tracked down to prevent St. Paul from retaking the lead. St. Paul took a 1st-inning lead for the seventh consecutive game as Helman doubled, stole 3rd base and scored on a wild pitch. Helman leads the team in batting average at .304 and has been hot in the leadoff spot during those seven quick starts. Iowa tied the game in the 3rd, but St. Paul retook the lead, 2-1, as Pérez belted his 10th home run of the season for only the third time in his 16-year professional career. After falling behind, 4-2, in Iowa’s 3-run 6th, the Saints got a solo home run from Severino in the 7th -- his 10th as a Saint and 34th overall this year, which co-leads all of the minor leagues. Saints 4, Cubs 1 Tuesday, Sept. 12 The Saints got to Iowa’s starting pitcher for three quick runs, then relied on their own hurlers to secure a 4-1 win over the Cubs in the opener of a 6-game series in Des Moine, IA last night (Tuesday). St. Paul is still four games out of the triple-A International League playoffs with 11 games to go in the regular season. (If anybody knows the mathematical chances, or oddsmakers’ offerings, of the Saints securing the final spot, please shoot me an email at johnclinger@gmail.com.) Martin put the Saints up 1-0 in the 1st inning by slashing a double that scored Larnach. Severino hit his 33rd home run in the minor leagues this season to open the 2nd. Camargo followed with a triple and came home on a single by Helman to give St. Paul a 3-0 cushion halfway through the 3rd. With the Saints pitching “by committee” again because some of their starters are now with the Twins, McMahon worked the first two innings. A key moment in the game came when one of the Cubs’ best hitters was charged with a pitch violation, resulting in an automatic third strike, for not “re-engaging” the pitcher with 8 seconds left in the pitching cycle after the timeout he had called. The International League is experimenting with this rule as well as the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system, and they could be coming to the major leagues as early as next season. The two teams traded a run apiece in the bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th. The Saint’s run came when Camargo reached 1st base on a throwing error, stole 2nd, and scored on another single by Helman. The Saints’ relief committee of Schulfer (W, 6-3), Brice, Henriquez and Sands (S, 3) shut down the Cubs in the final 5-1/3 innings with no runs, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Saints in Top Three this Season but Out of IL Playoffs 2023 Season: Game 139-144 Recaps – Game Dates September 12-17, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week four games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 12 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs. Cubs 7, Saints 5 Saturday, Sept. 16 Triple-A baseball has a pretty screwy playoffs format this season, with only two International League teams that will play for the right to meet a California League team for the title in the highest class under the major leagues. The Saints, with the third-best record among all 20 IL teams, are out of the playoffs hunt after losing to the Iowa Cubs, 7-5, last night (Saturday) in Des Moines. The Saints played the type of game that will usually get you beat. They committed three errors and managed just one extra-base hit among six safeties. Saints starter Murphy gave up 7 hits including a double, triple and home run. Recent double-A promote Festa (1-0, 2.79) will take the mound at 1:08 p.m. as the Saints try to avoid a 6-game sweep of the Iowa series and their 8th straight loss. Trevor Cubs 7, Saints 6 Friday, Sept. 15 Trevor Larnach, the Twins’ top draft pick in 2018 whose MLB career was interrupted in 2022 by an injury, is having quite a season with the triple-A Saints. He ranks 6th in the International League in OPS at 1.155 and 10th in batting at .366. His 3-run homer, 15th for the season, in the 9th inning last night (Friday) pulled the Saints within one run, but the Iowa Cubs held on for a 7-6 win. It was the Saints’ 6th straight loss. Although they are out of the IL playoffs chase, they can still win the Western Division over the final 8 games of the season. Two Twins players began injury rehab assignments. Brock Stewart pitched one scoreless inning and utility player Nick Gordon went hitless in three at-bats. Two games remain in Des Moines before the Saints close out the season with a 6-game home series against the Toledo Mudhens starting Tuesday, Sept. 19. The Cubs 9, Saints 3 Thursday, Sept. 14 The Saints dropped their third in a row to the Iowa I-Cubs, 9-3, yesterday (Thursday) in Des Moines to fall 6 games out of the lone remaining triple-A International League playoffs spot with only 9 games left to go in the regular season. Randy Dobnak, the former Twins starter, broke Ronny Henriquez’s record of 106 strikeouts in a season since the Saints became affiliated with the Twins in 2021. He has 109 now. Also for the Saints, Camargo smashed his 19th home run of the season and Lee lashed a pair of doubles. Cubs 4, Saints 3 Wednesday, Sept. 13 Saints hurler Simeon Woods Richardson, who was benched from one start in June and since then had compiled a 2.97 earned run average, was sharp again yesterday (Wednesday), but his teammates could muster only three runs, and St. Paul fell to the I-Cubs in Des Moines, 4-3. Without going 10-0, or close to that, for the rest of the season, the Saints have little chance of a playoff spot in the triple-A International League. They trail three teams by 1 to 5 games. Woods Richardson worked the first 5 innings and gave up just one run, walking 3 batters and striking out 5. Two-way player Bechtold, who is trying to establish himself as a pitcher, entered the game in relief in the 6th with a 2-1 lead and gave up 3 earned runs while facing only 6 batters. The Saints came up short after that, scoring 1 additional run and just missing 2 more on a line drive to the warning track that the centerfielder tracked down to prevent St. Paul from retaking the lead. St. Paul took a 1st-inning lead for the seventh consecutive game as Helman doubled, stole 3rd base and scored on a wild pitch. Helman leads the team in batting average at .304 and has been hot in the leadoff spot during those seven quick starts. Iowa tied the game in the 3rd, but St. Paul retook the lead, 2-1, as Pérez belted his 10th home run of the season for only the third time in his 16-year professional career. After falling behind, 4-2, in Iowa’s 3-run 6th, the Saints got a solo home run from Severino in the 7th -- his 10th as a Saint and 34th overall this year, which co-leads all of the minor leagues. Saints 4, Cubs 1 Tuesday, Sept. 12 The Saints got to Iowa’s starting pitcher for three quick runs, then relied on their own hurlers to secure a 4-1 win over the Cubs in the opener of a 6-game series in Des Moine, IA last night (Tuesday). St. Paul is still four games out of the triple-A International League playoffs with 11 games to go in the regular season. (If anybody knows the mathematical chances, or oddsmakers’ offerings, of the Saints securing the final spot, please shoot me an email at johnclinger@gmail.com.) Martin put the Saints up 1-0 in the 1st inning by slashing a double that scored Larnach. Severino hit his 33rd home run in the minor leagues this season to open the 2nd. Camargo followed with a triple and came home on a single by Helman to give St. Paul a 3-0 cushion halfway through the 3rd. With the Saints pitching “by committee” again because some of their starters are now with the Twins, McMahon worked the first two innings. A key moment in the game came when one of the Cubs’ best hitters was charged with a pitch violation, resulting in an automatic third strike, for not “re-engaging” the pitcher with 8 seconds left in the pitching cycle after the timeout he had called. The International League is experimenting with this rule as well as the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system, and they could be coming to the major leagues as early as next season. The two teams traded a run apiece in the bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th. The Saint’s run came when Camargo reached 1st base on a throwing error, stole 2nd, and scored on another single by Helman. The Saints’ relief committee of Schulfer (W, 6-3), Brice, Henriquez and Sands (S, 3) shut down the Cubs in the final 5-1/3 innings with no runs, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Larnach Smashing, Saints Crashing with 8 Games Left 2023 Season: Game 139-144 Recaps – Game Dates September 12-17, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week four games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 12 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs. Remaining game times against Iowa are 6:08 p.m. Saturday and 1:08 Sunday. Cubs 7, Saints 6 Friday, Sept. 15 Trevor Larnach, the Twins’ top draft pick in 2018 whose MLB career was interrupted in 2022 by an injury, is having quite a season with the triple-A Saints. He ranks 6th in the International League in OPS at 1.155 and 10th in batting at .366. His 3-run homer, 15th for the season, in the 9th inning last night (Friday) pulled the Saints within one run, but the Iowa Cubs held on for a 7-6 win. It was the Saints’ 6th straight loss. Although they are out of the IL playoffs chase, they can still win the Western Division over the final 8 games of the season. Two Twins players began injury rehab assignments. Brock Stewart pitched one scoreless inning and utility player Nick Gordon went hitless in three at-bats. Two games remain in Des Moines before the Saints close out the season with a 6-game home series against the Toledo Mudhens starting Tuesday, Sept. 19. The Cubs 9, Saints 3 Thursday, Sept. 14 The Saints dropped their third in a row to the Iowa I-Cubs, 9-3, yesterday (Thursday) in Des Moines to fall 6 games out of the lone remaining triple-A International League playoffs spot with only 9 games left to go in the regular season. Randy Dobnak, the former Twins starter, broke Ronny Henriquez’s record of 106 strikeouts in a season since the Saints became affiliated with the Twins in 2021. He has 109 now. Also for the Saints, Camargo smashed his 19th home run of the season and Lee lashed a pair of doubles. Cubs 4, Saints 3 Wednesday, Sept. 13 Saints hurler Simeon Woods Richardson, who was benched from one start in June and since then had compiled a 2.97 earned run average, was sharp again yesterday (Wednesday), but his teammates could muster only three runs, and St. Paul fell to the I-Cubs in Des Moines, 4-3. Without going 10-0, or close to that, for the rest of the season, the Saints have little chance of a playoff spot in the triple-A International League. They trail three teams by 1 to 5 games. Woods Richardson worked the first 5 innings and gave up just one run, walking 3 batters and striking out 5. Two-way player Bechtold, who is trying to establish himself as a pitcher, entered the game in relief in the 6th with a 2-1 lead and gave up 3 earned runs while facing only 6 batters. The Saints came up short after that, scoring 1 additional run and just missing 2 more on a line drive to the warning track that the centerfielder tracked down to prevent St. Paul from retaking the lead. St. Paul took a 1st-inning lead for the seventh consecutive game as Helman doubled, stole 3rd base and scored on a wild pitch. Helman leads the team in batting average at .304 and has been hot in the leadoff spot during those seven quick starts. Iowa tied the game in the 3rd, but St. Paul retook the lead, 2-1, as Pérez belted his 10th home run of the season for only the third time in his 16-year professional career. After falling behind, 4-2, in Iowa’s 3-run 6th, the Saints got a solo home run from Severino in the 7th -- his 10th as a Saint and 34th overall this year, which co-leads all of the minor leagues. Saints 4, Cubs 1 Tuesday, Sept. 12 The Saints got to Iowa’s starting pitcher for three quick runs, then relied on their own hurlers to secure a 4-1 win over the Cubs in the opener of a 6-game series in Des Moine, IA last night (Tuesday). St. Paul is still four games out of the triple-A International League playoffs with 11 games to go in the regular season. (If anybody knows the mathematical chances, or oddsmakers’ offerings, of the Saints securing the final spot, please shoot me an email at johnclinger@gmail.com.) Martin put the Saints up 1-0 in the 1st inning by slashing a double that scored Larnach. Severino hit his 33rd home run in the minor leagues this season to open the 2nd. Camargo followed with a triple and came home on a single by Helman to give St. Paul a 3-0 cushion halfway through the 3rd. With the Saints pitching “by committee” again because some of their starters are now with the Twins, McMahon worked the first two innings. A key moment in the game came when one of the Cubs’ best hitters was charged with a pitch violation, resulting in an automatic third strike, for not “re-engaging” the pitcher with 8 seconds left in the pitching cycle after the timeout he had called. The International League is experimenting with this rule as well as the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system, and they could be coming to the major leagues as early as next season. The two teams traded a run apiece in the bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th. The Saint’s run came when Camargo reached 1st base on a throwing error, stole 2nd, and scored on another single by Helman. The Saints’ relief committee of Schulfer (W, 6-3), Brice, Henriquez and Sands (S, 3) shut down the Cubs in the final 5-1/3 innings with no runs, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Dobnak Sets Strikeout Record, but Saints Also Whiff, 9-3 2023 Season: Game 139-144 Recaps – Game Dates September 12-17, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week four games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 12 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs. Remaining game times against Iowa are 7:08 Friday, 6:08 Saturday, and 1:08 Sunday. Cubs 9, Saints 3 Thursday, Sept. 14 The Saints dropped their third in a row to the Iowa I-Cubs, 9-3, yesterday (Thursday) in Des Moines to fall 6 games out of the lone remaining triple-A International League playoffs spot with only 9 games left to go in the regular season. Randy Dobnak, the former Twins starter, broke Ronny Henriquez’s record of 106 strikeouts in a season since the Saints became affiliated with the Twins in 2021. He has 109 now. Also for the Saints, Camargo smashed his 19th home run of the season and Lee lashed a pair of doubles. Cubs 4, Saints 3 Wednesday, Sept. 13 Saints hurler Simeon Woods Richardson, who was benched from one start in June and since then had compiled a 2.97 earned run average, was sharp again yesterday (Wednesday), but his teammates could muster only three runs, and St. Paul fell to the I-Cubs in Des Moines, 4-3. Without going 10-0, or close to that, for the rest of the season, the Saints have little chance of a playoff spot in the triple-A International League. They trail three teams by 1 to 5 games. Woods Richardson worked the first 5 innings and gave up just one run, walking 3 batters and striking out 5. Two-way player Bechtold, who is trying to establish himself as a pitcher, entered the game in relief in the 6th with a 2-1 lead and gave up 3 earned runs while facing only 6 batters. The Saints came up short after that, scoring 1 additional run and just missing 2 more on a line drive to the warning track that the centerfielder tracked down to prevent St. Paul from retaking the lead. St. Paul took a 1st-inning lead for the seventh consecutive game as Helman doubled, stole 3rd base and scored on a wild pitch. Helman leads the team in batting average at .304 and has been hot in the leadoff spot during those seven quick starts. Iowa tied the game in the 3rd, but St. Paul retook the lead, 2-1, as Pérez belted his 10th home run of the season for only the third time in his 16-year professional career. After falling behind, 4-2, in Iowa’s 3-run 6th, the Saints got a solo home run from Severino in the 7th -- his 10th as a Saint and 34th overall this year, which co-leads all of the minor leagues. Saints 4, Cubs 1 Tuesday, Sept. 12 The Saints got to Iowa’s starting pitcher for three quick runs, then relied on their own hurlers to secure a 4-1 win over the Cubs in the opener of a 6-game series in Des Moine, IA last night (Tuesday). St. Paul is still four games out of the triple-A International League playoffs with 11 games to go in the regular season. (If anybody knows the mathematical chances, or oddsmakers’ offerings, of the Saints securing the final spot, please shoot me an email at johnclinger@gmail.com.) Martin put the Saints up 1-0 in the 1st inning by slashing a double that scored Larnach. Severino hit his 33rd home run in the minor leagues this season to open the 2nd. Camargo followed with a triple and came home on a single by Helman to give St. Paul a 3-0 cushion halfway through the 3rd. With the Saints pitching “by committee” again because some of their starters are now with the Twins, McMahon worked the first two innings. A key moment in the game came when one of the Cubs’ best hitters was charged with a pitch violation, resulting in an automatic third strike, for not “re-engaging” the pitcher with 8 seconds left in the pitching cycle after the timeout he had called. The International League is experimenting with this rule as well as the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system, and they could be coming to the major leagues as early as next season. The two teams traded a run apiece in the bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th. The Saint’s run came when Camargo reached 1st base on a throwing error, stole 2nd, and scored on another single by Helman. The Saints’ relief committee of Schulfer (W, 6-3), Brice, Henriquez and Sands (S, 3) shut down the Cubs in the final 5-1/3 innings with no runs, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

I-Cubs Nip Saints, 4-3, Spoil SWR’s One-Run Outing 2023 Season: Game 139-144 Recaps – Game Dates September 12-17, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week four games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 12 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs. Remaining game times against Iowa are 12:08 p.m. Thursday, 7:08 Friday, 6:08 Saturday, and 1:08 Sunday. Cubs 4, Saints 3 Wednesday, Sept. 13 Saints hurler Simeon Woods Richardson, who was benched from one start in June and since then had compiled a 2.97 earned run average, was sharp again yesterday (Wednesday), but his teammates could muster only three runs, and St. Paul fell to the I-Cubs in Des Moines, 4-3. Without going 10-0, or close to that, for the rest of the season, the Saints have little chance of a playoff spot in the triple-A International League. They trail three teams by 1 to 5 games. Woods Richardson worked the first 5 innings and gave up just one run, walking 3 batters and striking out 5. Two-way player Bechtold, who is trying to establish himself as a pitcher, entered the game in relief in the 6th with a 2-1 lead and gave up 3 earned runs while facing only 6 batters. The Saints came up short after that, scoring 1 additional run and just missing 2 more on a line drive to the warning track that the centerfielder tracked down to prevent St. Paul from retaking the lead. St. Paul took a 1st-inning lead for the seventh consecutive game as Helman doubled, stole 3rd base and scored on a wild pitch. Helman leads the team in batting average at .304 and has been hot in the leadoff spot during those seven quick starts. Iowa tied the game in the 3rd, but St. Paul retook the lead, 2-1, as Pérez belted his 10th home run of the season for only the third time in his 16-year professional career. After falling behind, 4-2, in Iowa’s 3-run 6th, the Saints got a solo home run from Severino in the 7th -- his 10th as a Saint and 34th overall this year, which co-leads all of the minor leagues. Saints 4, Cubs 1 Tuesday, Sept. 12 The Saints got to Iowa’s starting pitcher for three quick runs, then relied on their own hurlers to secure a 4-1 win over the Cubs in the opener of a 6-game series in Des Moine, IA last night (Tuesday). St. Paul is still four games out of the triple-A International League playoffs with 11 games to go in the regular season. (If anybody knows the mathematical chances, or oddsmakers’ offerings, of the Saints securing the final spot, please shoot me an email at johnclinger@gmail.com.) Martin put the Saints up 1-0 in the 1st inning by slashing a double that scored Larnach. Severino hit his 33rd home run in the minor leagues this season to open the 2nd. Camargo followed with a triple and came home on a single by Helman to give St. Paul a 3-0 cushion halfway through the 3rd. With the Saints pitching “by committee” again because some of their starters are now with the Twins, McMahon worked the first two innings. A key moment in the game came when one of the Cubs’ best hitters was charged with a pitch violation, resulting in an automatic third strike, for not “re-engaging” the pitcher with 8 seconds left in the pitching cycle after the timeout he had called. The International League is experimenting with this rule as well as the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system, and they could be coming to the major leagues as early as next season. The two teams traded a run apiece in the bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th. The Saint’s run came when Camargo reached 1st base on a throwing error, stole 2nd, and scored on another single by Helman. The Saints’ relief committee of Schulfer (W, 6-3), Brice, Henriquez and Sands (S, 3) shut down the Cubs in the final 5-1/3 innings with no runs, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Pitching Committee Back in Session; Saints Win, 4-1 2023 Season: Game 139-144 Recaps – Game Dates September 12-17, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week four games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 12 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs. Remaining game times against Iowa are 12:08 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 7:08 Friday, 6:08 Saturday, and 1:08 Sunday. Saints 4, Cubs 1 Tuesday, Sept. 12 The Saints got to Iowa’s starting pitcher for three quick runs, then relied on their own hurlers to secure a 4-1 win over the Cubs in the opener of a 6-game series in Des Moine, IA last night (Tuesday). St. Paul is still four games out of the triple-A International League playoffs with 11 games to go in the regular season. (If anybody knows the mathematical chances, or oddsmakers’ offerings, of the Saints securing the final spot, please shoot me an email at johnclinger@gmail.com.) Martin put the Saints up 1-0 in the 1st inning by slashing a double that scored Larnach. Severino hit his 33rd home run in the minor leagues this season to open the 2nd. Camargo followed with a triple and came home on a single by Helman to give St. Paul a 3-0 cushion halfway through the 3rd. With the Saints pitching “by committee” again because some of their starters are now with the Twins, McMahon worked the first two innings. A key moment in the game came when one of the Cubs’ best hitters was charged with a pitch violation, resulting in an automatic third strike, for not “re-engaging” the pitcher with 8 seconds left in the pitching cycle after the timeout he had called. The International League is experimenting with this rule as well as the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system, and they could be coming to the major leagues as early as next season. The two teams traded a run apiece in the bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th. The Saint’s run came when Camargo reached 1st base on a throwing error, stole 2nd, and scored on another single by Helman. The Saints’ relief committee of Schulfer (W, 6-3), Brice, Henriquez and Sands (S, 3) shut down the Cubs in the final 5-1/3 innings with no runs, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Saints’ Hopes for Playoff Spot Waning after Loss 2023 Season: Game 133-138 Recaps – Game Dates September 5-10, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week three games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 18 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Louisville against the Bats. Game times this week are 5:35 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 6:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:05 p.m. Sunday. Louisville Bats 3, St. Paul Saints 2 (10 innings) Sunday, Sept. 10 It came down to the last pitch of the 9th inning yesterday (Sunday) in Louisville. The Saints led, 2-1, over the Bats and reliever Sands was ahead of the hitter (1-2) with two outs. But the Bats batsman laced a double to tie the game, and Louisville went on to win, 3-2, in 10 innings. The Saints’ hopes of a triple-A International League playoff spot are on life support with the local lads (36-27 in the second half of the season) now four games behind Durham (NC), and two other teams ahead of them in the race for the playoffs with 12 games left. The Saints clubbed three doubles and two home runs, but their seven hits were not enough. Lee and Severino circled the bases, with Severino’s homer giving him 32 for the minor league season with the Saints and double-A Wichita. Enlow, Murphy and Balazovic gave up just one run in 7-2/3 innings before Sands came on to get the last out in the 8th. The Saints move on to Des Moines for their last road series against the Iowa Cubs starting Tuesday, then finish the regular season at home Sept. 19-24 against the Toledo MudHens. Games times against Iowa are 6:38 p.m. Tuesday, 12:08 Wednesday-Thursday, 7:08 Friday, 8:08 Saturday, and 1:08 Sunday. Louisville Bats 4, St. Paul Saints 3 Saturday, Sept. 9 The win streak ended at four games, and the Saints are again three games out of a triple-A International League playoffs berth with 13 games to go, after the host Louisville Bats edged the St. Paul nine, 4-3, last night (Saturday). Both the Saints’ and Bats’ bats took the night off, except for the swing of one by Louisville’s designated hitter, Matt Reynolds. With the Saints clinging to a 3-1 lead after 6½ innings, reliever Michael Boyle walked the first two batters in the home half of the 7th inning. Reynolds smashed a 3-run homer to put the Bats in front, 4-3, and the Saints were held to one hit in the final two frames. Starter Bailey Ober, who hadn’t pitched for 13 days, looked like the pitcher he was for the Twins before recent setbacks that resulted in Louie Varland and him trading places for Minnesota’s pursuit of the American League Central championship. Ober needed just 65 pitches, 45 of them strikes, to breeze through five innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 3 Bats batsmen, and walking none. St. Paul Saints 7, Louisville Bats 6 Friday, Sept. 8 The Saints put up 7 runs in the first three innings and held on for their fourth straight win, 7-6, over the Bats with two games left in the 6-game series in Louisville. They are still 2 games behind the co-leaders in the triple-A International League’s second half at 36-25, with just one playoff spot left and 14 games remaining. The local lads have been on a home run tear of late, clubbing 8 of them including grand slams by Lee and Larnach in their previous three games. They only got one roundtripper last night, by Wolters, but Lee and Keirsey Jr. sliced a pair of triples, with Keirsey Jr. amassing 4 RBI on the night. Saints starter Dobnak gave up 2 runs in the 1st inning and 4 in the 4th to pull the Bats within one run, 7-6. But relievers Schulfer and Sands came on to preserve the Saints’ lead with two shutout innings apiece. St. Paul Saints 10, Louisville Bats 3 Thursday, Sept. 7 Two long balls and another that wasn’t hit as far but bounced quite a ways powered the Saints to their third straight win as the Saints topped the Bats, 10-3, last night (Thursday) to take a 3-0 lead in their 6-game road trip to Louisville. Kyle Garlick went deep twice, and Gilberto Celestino collected an inside-the-park roundtripper when the ball caromed off the wall and bounced to where the centerfielder had been before sprinting to back up the leftfielder. Each homer produced two runs. And then there was Simeon Woods-Richardson’s pitching. He completed 6 innings and allowed just one run while walking a single Bats batsman and striking out 5 of them. With a 35-25 record in the second half of the triple-A International League season, St. Paul moved a game closer to Durham and Lehigh Valley in the race for the only remaining playoffs spot. They trail those two teams, which both lost, by two games with 21 left to play. Buffalo is also two games back. St. Paul Saints 13, Louisville Bats 8 Wednesday, Sept. 6 It was Trevor Larnach tonight (Wednesday) as the Saints hit another grand slam home run to defeat the Bats, 13-3, and take a 2-0 lead in the 6-game road series. After the Saints squandered a big lead to go from leading, 6-2, to trailing, 8-6, the local lads scored 7 in the top of the 9th on an RBI single by Helman, a 2-run double by major league rehabber Kirilloff, and Larnach’s blast. St. Paul also got a 4-bagger from Helman and one by Larnach, his first of 2. They needed all those runs because three Saints relievers surrendered that 6-2 lead by giving up 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th, including a grand salami by the Bats. Louisville kept plenty of men on base thanks to 11 walks by Saints pitchers. Starting pitcher Festa had a 2-0 lead when he left the game after 3 innings. Festa allowed 3 hits and walked 6 batters while striking out another half-dozen Bats batsmen. Larnach’s grand slam, the first of his career, was the Saints’ 13th of the season, the most in professional baseball at any level. The Saints are still 3 games behind in the race for a playoff spot in triple-A International League playoffs because 4 of the 5 teams ahead of them also won tonight. St. Paul Saints 11, Louisville Bats 3 Tuesday, Sept. 5 Brooks Lee, the No. 2 prospect in the Twins organization, smashed a 415-foot grand slam to left-center field to help the Saints end a 3-game losing streak with an 11-3 win over the Louisville Bats. But the standings deficit stayed at 3 games with 5 teams ahead of them. The Saints also got a 3-run double from Helman, who played his first game since a shoulder injury May 11, and a 2-run homer from Severino. Severino’s second roundtripper as a Saint gave him 30 for the minor league season (28 at double-A Wichita), only the eighth player to hit 30 at any level of the minors. Note: The 12 grand slams for the Saints this year are the most at any level of American baseball. The Saints pitched by committee again -- with Enlow pitching the first three innings and McMahon, Schulfer, Balazovic and Brice chipping in – and scattered 9 singles while striking out 8 Bats batsmen. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Bats Go Cold; The Bats Edge Saints, 4-3 2023 Season: Game 133-138 Recaps – Game Dates September 5-10, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week three games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 18 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Louisville against the Bats. Game times this week are 5:35 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 6:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:05 p.m. Sunday. Louisville Bats 4, St. Paul Saints 3 Saturday, Sept. 9 The win streak ended at four games, and the Saints are again three games out of a triple-A International League playoffs berth with 13 games to go, after the host Louisville Bats edged the St. Paul nine, 4-3, last night (Saturday). Both the Saints’ and Bats’ bats took the night off, except for the swing of one by Louisville’s designated hitter, Matt Reynolds. With the Saints clinging to a 3-1 lead after 6½ innings, reliever Michael Boyle walked the first two batters in the home half of the 7th inning. Reynolds smashed a 3-run homer to put the Bats in front, 4-3, and the Saints were held to one hit in the final two frames. Starter Bailey Ober, who hadn’t pitched for 13 days, looked like the pitcher he was for the Twins before setbacks that resulted in Louie Varland and him trading places for Minnesota’s pursuit of the American League Central championship. Ober needed just 65 pitches, 45 of them strikes, to breeze through five innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 3 Bats batsmen, and walking none. St. Paul Saints 7, Louisville Bats 6 Friday, Sept. 8 The Saints put up 7 runs in the first three innings and held on for their fourth straight win, 7-6, over the Bats with two games left in the 6-game series in Louisville. They are still 2 games behind the co-leaders in the triple-A International League’s second half at 36-25, with just one playoff spot left and 14 games remaining. The local lads have been on a home run tear of late, clubbing 8 of them including grand slams by Lee and Larnach in their previous three games. They only got one roundtripper last night, by Wolters, but Lee and Keirsey Jr. sliced a pair of triples, with Keirsey Jr. amassing 4 RBI on the night. Saints starter Dobnak gave up 2 runs in the 1st inning and 4 in the 4th to pull the Bats within one run, 7-6. But relievers Schulfer and Sands came on to preserve the Saints’ lead with two shutout innings apiece. St. Paul Saints 10, Louisville Bats 3 Thursday, Sept. 7 Two long balls and another that wasn’t hit as far but bounced quite a ways powered the Saints to their third straight win as the Saints topped the Bats, 10-3, last night (Thursday) to take a 3-0 lead in their 6-game road trip to Louisville. Kyle Garlick went deep twice, and Gilberto Celestino collected an inside-the-park roundtripper when the ball caromed off the wall and bounced to where the centerfielder had been before sprinting to back up the leftfielder. Each homer produced two runs. And then there was Simeon Woods-Richardson’s pitching. He completed 6 innings and allowed just one run while walking a single Bats batsman and striking out 5 of them. With a 35-25 record in the second half of the triple-A International League season, St. Paul moved a game closer to Durham and Lehigh Valley in the race for the only remaining playoffs spot. They trail those two teams, which both lost, by two games with 21 left to play. Buffalo is also two games back. St. Paul Saints 13, Louisville Bats 8 Wednesday, Sept. 6 It was Trevor Larnach tonight (Wednesday) as the Saints hit another grand slam home run to defeat the Bats, 13-3, and take a 2-0 lead in the 6-game road series. After the Saints squandered a big lead to go from leading, 6-2, to trailing, 8-6, the local lads scored 7 in the top of the 9th on an RBI single by Helman, a 2-run double by major league rehabber Kirilloff, and Larnach’s blast. St. Paul also got a 4-bagger from Helman and one by Larnach, his first of 2. They needed all those runs because three Saints relievers surrendered that 6-2 lead by giving up 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th, including a grand salami by the Bats. Louisville kept plenty of men on base thanks to 11 walks by Saints pitchers. Starting pitcher Festa had a 2-0 lead when he left the game after 3 innings. Festa allowed 3 hits and walked 6 batters while striking out another half-dozen Bats batsmen. Larnach’s grand slam, the first of his career, was the Saints’ 13th of the season, the most in professional baseball at any level. The Saints are still 3 games behind in the race for a playoff spot in triple-A International League playoffs because 4 of the 5 teams ahead of them also won tonight. St. Paul Saints 11, Louisville Bats 3 Tuesday, Sept. 5 Brooks Lee, the No. 2 prospect in the Twins organization, smashed a 415-foot grand slam to left-center field to help the Saints end a 3-game losing streak with an 11-3 win over the Louisville Bats. But the standings deficit stayed at 3 games with 5 teams ahead of them. The Saints also got a 3-run double from Helman, who played his first game since a shoulder injury May 11, and a 2-run homer from Severino. Severino’s second roundtripper as a Saint gave him 30 for the minor league season (28 at double-A Wichita), only the eighth player to hit 30 at any level of the minors. Note: The 12 grand slams for the Saints this year are the most at any level of American baseball. The Saints pitched by committee again -- with Enlow pitching the first three innings and McMahon, Schulfer, Balazovic and Brice chipping in – and scattered 9 singles while striking out 8 Bats batsmen. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Saints Win Fourth Straight over Bats, 7-6; Still Two Games Back in Playoffs Chase 2023 Season: Game 133-138 Recaps – Game Dates September 5-10, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week three games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 18 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Louisville against the Bats. Game times this week are 5:35 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 6:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:05 p.m. Sunday. St. Paul Saints 7, Louisville Bats 6 Friday, Sept. 8 The Saints put up 7 runs in the first three innings and held on for their fourth straight win, 7-6, over the Bats with two games left in the 6-game series in Louisville. They are still 2 games behind the co-leaders in the triple-A International League’s second half at 36-25, with just one playoff spot left and 14 games remaining. The local lads have been on a home run tear of late, clubbing 8 of them including grand slams by Lee and Larnach in their previous three games. They only got one roundtripper last night, by Wolters, but Lee and Keirsey Jr. sliced a pair of triples, with Keirsey Jr. amassing 4 RBI on the night. Saints starter Dobnak gave up 2 runs in the 1st inning and 4 in the 4th to pull the Bats within one run, 7-6. But relievers Schulfer and Sands came on to preserve the Saints’ lead with two shutout innings apiece. St. Paul Saints 10, Louisville Bats 3 Thursday, Sept. 7 Two long balls and another that wasn’t hit as far but bounced quite a ways powered the Saints to their third straight win as the Saints topped the Bats, 10-3, last night (Thursday) to take a 3-0 lead in their 6-game road trip to Louisville. Kyle Garlick went deep twice, and Gilberto Celestino collected an inside-the-park roundtripper when the ball caromed off the wall and bounced to where the centerfielder had been before sprinting to back up the leftfielder. Each homer produced two runs. And then there was Simeon Woods-Richardson’s pitching. He completed 6 innings and allowed just one run while walking a single Bats batsman and striking out 5 of them. With a 35-25 record in the second half of the triple-A International League season, St. Paul moved a game closer to Durham and Lehigh Valley in the race for the only remaining playoffs spot. They trail those two teams, which both lost, by two games with 21 left to play. Buffalo is also two games back. St. Paul Saints 13, Louisville Bats 8 Wednesday, Sept. 6 It was Trevor Larnach tonight (Wednesday) as the Saints hit another grand slam home run to defeat the Bats, 13-3, and take a 2-0 lead in the 6-game road series. After the Saints squandered a big lead to go from leading, 6-2, to trailing, 8-6, the local lads scored 7 in the top of the 9th on an RBI single by Helman, a 2-run double by major league rehabber Kirilloff, and Larnach’s blast. St. Paul also got a 4-bagger from Helman and one by Larnach, his first of 2. They needed all those runs because three Saints relievers surrendered that 6-2 lead by giving up 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th, including a grand salami by the Bats. Louisville kept plenty of men on base thanks to 11 walks by Saints pitchers. Starting pitcher Festa had a 2-0 lead when he left the game after 3 innings. Festa allowed 3 hits and walked 6 batters while striking out another half-dozen Bats batsmen. Larnach’s grand slam, the first of his career, was the Saints’ 13th of the season, the most in professional baseball at any level. The Saints are still 3 games behind in the race for a playoff spot in triple-A International League playoffs because 4 of the 5 teams ahead of them also won tonight. St. Paul Saints 11, Louisville Bats 3 Tuesday, Sept. 5 Brooks Lee, the No. 2 prospect in the Twins organization, smashed a 415-foot grand slam to left-center field to help the Saints end a 3-game losing streak with an 11-3 win over the Louisville Bats. But the standings deficit stayed at 3 games with 5 teams ahead of them. The Saints also got a 3-run double from Helman, who played his first game since a shoulder injury May 11, and a 2-run homer from Severino. Severino’s second roundtripper as a Saint gave him 30 for the minor league season (28 at double-A Wichita), only the eighth player to hit 30 at any level of the minors. Note: The 12 grand slams for the Saints this year are the most at any level of American baseball. The Saints pitched by committee again -- with Enlow pitching the first three innings and McMahon, Schulfer, Balazovic and Brice chipping in – and scattered 9 singles while striking out 8 Bats batsmen. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.

Not Grand, But Still Great, Home Run Night Lifts Saints, 10-3 2023 Season: Game 133-138 Recaps – Game Dates September 5-10, 2023 By CAP’N JOHN CLINGER Note: The Saints began the week three games out of a potential triple-A International League playoff spot with 18 games remaining as they opened a 6-game series in Louisville against the Bats. Game times this week are 5:35 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 6:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:05 p.m. Sunday. St. Paul Saints 10, Louisville Bats 3 Thursday, Sept. 7 Two long balls and another that wasn’t hit as far but bounced quite a ways powered the Saints to their third straight win as the Saints topped the Bats, 10-3, last night (Thursday) to take a 3-0 lead in their 6-game road trip to Louisville. Kyle Garlick went deep twice, and Gilberto Celestino collected an inside-the-park roundtripper when the ball caromed off the wall and bounced to where the centerfielder had been before sprinting to back up the leftfielder. Each homer produced two runs. And then there was Simeon Woods-Richardson’s pitching. He completed 6 innings and allowed just one run while walking a single Bats batsman and striking out 5 of them. With a 35-25 record in the second half of the triple-A International League season, St. Paul moved a game closer to Durham and Lehigh Valley in the race for the only remaining playoffs spot. They trail those two teams, which both lost, by two games with 15 left to play. Buffalo is also two games back. St. Paul Saints 13, Louisville Bats 8 Wednesday, Sept. 6 It was Trevor Larnach tonight (Wednesday) as the Saints hit another grand slam home run to defeat the Bats, 13-3, and take a 2-0 lead in the 6-game road series. After the Saints squandered a big lead to go from leading, 6-2, to trailing, 8-6, the local lads scored 7 in the top of the 9th on an RBI single by Helman, a 2-run double by major league rehabber Kirilloff, and Larnach’s blast. St. Paul also got a 4-bagger from Helman and one by Larnach, his first of 2. They needed all those runs because three Saints relievers surrendered that 6-2 lead by giving up 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th, including a grand salami by the Bats. Louisville kept plenty of men on base thanks to 11 walks by Saints pitchers. Starting pitcher Festa had a 2-0 lead when he left the game after 3 innings. Festa allowed 3 hits and walked 6 batters while striking out another half-dozen Bats batsmen. Larnach’s grand slam, the first of his career, was the Saints’ 13th of the season, the most in professional baseball at any level. The Saints are still 3 games behind in the race for a playoff spot in triple-A International League playoffs because 4 of the 5 teams ahead of them also won tonight. St. Paul Saints 11, Louisville Bats 3 Tuesday, Sept. 5 Brooks Lee, the No. 2 prospect in the Twins organization, smashed a 415-foot grand slam to left-center field to help the Saints end a 3-game losing streak with an 11-3 win over the Louisville Bats. But the standings deficit stayed at 3 games with 5 teams ahead of them. The Saints also got a 3-run double from Helman, who played his first game since a shoulder injury May 11, and a 2-run homer from Severino. Severino’s second roundtripper as a Saint gave him 30 for the minor league season (28 at double-A Wichita), only the eighth player to hit 30 at any level of the minors. Note: The 12 grand slams for the Saints this year are the most at any level of American baseball. The Saints pitched by committee again -- with Enlow pitching the first three innings and McMahon, Schulfer, Balazovic and Brice chipping in – and scattered 9 singles while striking out 8 Bats batsmen. How to Hear and See the Saints All games on KFAN Plus (96.7 FM), I-Heart app, MiLB.TV, Bally app (Apple only); home games on local television public programming (consult your TV listings); Saturday and Sunday home games televised on WUCW (The CW Network). Notes Go to gzrnetwork.com to receive my blog after every Saints game.