Saints Hang On To Take Down Bats 3-2

LOUISVILLE, KY (June 11, 2024) - The St. Paul Saints lineup may be the deepest it’s been all season, but it’s still the pitching that continues to impress. Caleb Boushley grinded through 4.1 innings, but allowed just two runs and kept the Saints in the game before the bullpen shut it down. Three relievers combined to go 4.2 shutout innings as the Saints hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field on Tuesday night.

Four batters into the game and the Bats grabbed the lead. After a leadoff walk to Liván Soto, Major League rehabber Noelvi Marte doubled him to third. Rece Hinds reached on a fielder’s choice as third baseman Michael Helman threw out Soto at the plate. Nick Martini, however, would make it 1-0 with an RBI single to right-center.

Brooks Lee led off with fourth with a fly ball double off the outstretched glove of the right fielder Hinds. Lee took third on an Edouard Julien groundout and scored on a sacrifice line out from Michael Helman tying the game at one.

In the bottom of the inning the Bats regained the lead when Peyton Burdick singled into right-center with one out and scored on a double to right-center from Conner Capel making it 2-1. Boushley went 4.1 innings allowing two runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out three.

The Saints knotted the game at two in the fifth. Yunior Severino led off with a line drive single to center. With one out Will Holland walked. With two outs Lee lined an RBI single into left tying the game at two.

In the seventh the Saints grabbed their first lead of the night. Severino led off with a walk and with one out Holland doubled him to third. Austin Martin lined an RBI single into center giving the Saints a 3-2 lead.

Saints reliever Ronny Henriquez retired the final two batters in the fifth before pitching a shutout sixth allowing just a hit. In the seventh, Henriquez gave up a one out single to Marte and a two-out double to Martini that moved Marte to third. Nick Wittgren came out of the bullpen and retired PJ Higgins on a flyout to center ending the inning. Henriquez went 2.1 shutout innings allowing three hits while striking out two.

Kody Funderburk closed it out for the Saints, but not before a tense ninth inning. After a scoreless eighth, Funderburk gave up a check swing single off the third base bag to Soto leading off the ninth. Funderburk would fan Marte looking and get Hinds to line out weakly to second. Martini followed with a slow roller to second that Martin fielded, but his throw to first was a little wide and tipped off the glove of Julien. The base hit and error sent Soto to third. Funderburk, however, would get Higgins to fly out to center ending the game. Funderburk went 2.0 scoreless innings allowing two hits while walking one and striking out three.

The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series on Wednesday morning at 11:05 a.m. (CT) at Louisville Slugger Field. The Saints send RHP Adam Plutko (0-1, 5.59) to the mound against Bats RHP Lyon Richardson (1-2, 4.89). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.