2024 Season: Game 74 Recap – Sunday, June 23
The amazing 11-game win streak at the end of the first half of the triple-A International League was impressive. But it will not help the Saints as they enter the second half. They finished the half in the middle of the IL pack with a 38-36 record.
Second-half play begins Tuesday for the Saint Paul nine as they open a 6-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs. They will have to win the second half of the league schedule to advance to the season-ending International League playoffs. The winner of that playoff series will take on the California League titlist for the AAA championship.
St. Paul’s 20-9 loss in the first-half finale at CHS Field stood in stark contrast to the previous 11 games. Saints starter Louis Varland had the worst outing of his professional career, setting regrettable Twins AAA-franchise records (2021 to present) of 20 runs and 5 home runs allowed before he was lifted in the 3rd inning. Manager Gardenhire should have lifted him in the 2nd.
But let’s dwell on the 11 games prior to Sunday’s blowout loss. The winning streak the Saints executed was the longest over one season in their 32-year history (Independent 1993-2020, Twins franchise 2021-present).
Starter Boushley pitched 7 shutout innings and gave up only 3 hits to improve his record to 8-1. Meanwhile, Severino, Keirsey and Kemp slugged home runs and the locals amassed 16 hits. Still, the game got close in the 9th when reliever Brice walked 3 batters and gave up 5 runs before exiting with an apparent injury. Replacement pitcher Wittgren surrendered 2 more runs before the Saints prevailed, 9-7.
St. Paul finished the first half with a team batting average of .247, 20 points off the lead, as Wallner clubbed 18 home runs in just 58 games and Severino 14 in 64 contests. Switch hitter Lee batted .350 and posted an on-base-plus-slugging average of 1.017 in 15 games after a late start. Keirsey batted .307 and Castillo .300.
The Saints pitching corps posted an earned run average of 4.54, 46 points off the league lead but in the top 6 of the the 20-team league. Boushley (8-1, 3.52) has led the way and Dobnak (6-5, 4.35) is the only other pitcher with a more than 4 wins.
The 6-game road series in Des Moines begins Tuesday at 6:38 p.m. Wednesday’s game is at 12:08, followed by Thursday at 6:38, Friday at 7:08, Saturday at 6:08, and Sunday at 1:08. All games are broadcast on KFAN+ (96.7 FM).