Eerily Similar Feeling, Saints Give Up Three-Run Homer In Eighth And Fall 8-7 To Clippers

COLUMBUS, OH (September 12, 2024) - If you put Wednesday night’s game side-by-side with Thursday night’s game you would find several similarities. The St. Paul Saints got an insurance run in the eighth on a bases loaded walk, but couldn’t deliver the knockout blow. In the bottom of the inning the Columbus Clippers would get a three-run homer. The only difference, on Wednesday night that tied the game, but on Thursday night that proved to be the difference in an 8-7 loss at Huntington Park.

With the Saints leading 6-5 in the eighth Carson McCusker led off the eighth inning for the Saints with a single to left. With one out Morales was hit by a pitch and Bannon followed with a walk to load the bases. With two outs Payton Eeles walked forcing in a run giving the Saints a 7-5 lead.

In the bottom of the inning Johnathan Rodriguez led off with an infield single to third. After a fielder’s choice erased Rodriguez, Myles Straw walked. After a flyout, Reynel Delgado delivered a three-run homer to right, his ninth of the season, giving the Clippers an 8-7 lead and the eventual victory.

The Saints struck first for the second consecutive game when Michael Helman gave the Saints a 1-0 lead with a solo homer to straightaway center in the first, his 14^th of the season.

An error cost the Saints a run in the second. Rodriguez led off with a single to right, moved up to third on a couple of groundouts, and scored when Bryan Lavastida reached on a throwing error by shortstop Rylan Bannon tying the game at one.

In the third the Clippers took the lead. With two out and nobody on Juan Brito singled to right-center. That was followed by a two-run homer to right by Angel Martinez, his seventh of the season, giving the Clippers a 3-1 lead.

With two outs and nobody on the Saints put up a crooked number. McCusker got it started with a double to left-center. Jair Camargo walked putting runners at first and second. Morales’ single to center scored McCusker making it 3-2. Bannon knotted the game at three with a double off the wall in left. Anthony Prato then dropped a two-run double down the right field line scoring two giving the Saints a 5-3 lead.

The Saints added a run in the sixth when the first three hitters reached in the inning. McCusker led off with a walk, moved to third on a single to right by Camargo, and scored on an infield single to third by Morales stretching the lead to 6-3.

Martinez led off the bottom of the inning for the Clippers with a walk. He stole second, took third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch cutting the Saints lead to 6-4.

The Clippers got to within a run in the seventh when Christian Cairo walked with one out, stole second, and scored on a two-out single to center by Brito making it 6-5.

The same two teams meet in game four of a six-game series at Huntington Park on Friday night at 6:05 p.m. (CT). The Saints send LHP Aaron Rozek (1-5, 6.20) to the mound against Clippers LHP Doug Nikhazy (5-3, 3.27). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.