2024 Season: Games 81-86 Recap — Sunday, July 7
After 21-6 and 11-0 losses earlier in the week, the Saint Paul Saints came back to earn a split of the 6-game series at CHS Field against the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The Stripers had former Twin Eddie Rosario in the lineup along with former big-leagues catcher Sandy Leon.
Saint Paul, now 44-42 overall and 6-6 in the second half of the Triple-A International League, opens a 6-game road series Tuesday night at the Louisville Sluggers.
Saints 4, Stripers 3 (Sunday)
Home runs by Camargo and Williams, a fielding gem by Williams, and strong pitching by starter Dobnak and relievers Wittgren, Harris, Stankiewicz, Bowman, and closer Castillo helped the Saints split the Gwinnett series on its final day.
Camargo smacked a bases-empty, 6th-inning pitch 448 feet up and over the batter’s eye in centerfield to tie the score, 3-3, becoming the 7th player in Saints history and the 2nd in Triple-A franchise history, with teammate Severino. Williams, who tied Camargo with a team franchise record 21 4-baggers last season, stepped into the batter’s box next and smacked a 2nd solo shot for the Saints’ 4-3 margin of victory. Williams holds a 9-6 lead over Camargo in their home run duel this season, though Camargo has played in 16 fewer games. It was Williams’ 4th homer of the series.
Then, Williams made a beautiful play in left-centerfield in the top of the 9th to help Castillo secure the save. His catch and throw to 2nd base doubled up the Stripers runner; then Castillo struck out the final batter.
Saints reliever Harris (2-4) picked up the win in relief of Saints starter Dobnak (4.1 IP, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts) and Wittgren. Stankiewicz, Bowman and Castillo finished off the game.
Stripers 4, Saints 1 (Saturday)
The Saints were offered 9 free bases but could only muster 2 hits. Wallner, who was named International League player of the month for June, was not in the lineup. He was called up to the Twins after a month that included 12 home runs and a .324 BA, .403 OBA, .724 Slugging Percentage, and 1.127 OPS. (Let’s hope he’s up there to stay!)
Saints 11, Stripers 5 (Friday)
An announced crowd of 8,168 watched Williams smash 2 home runs and drive in 4 runs. Julien collected a 3-run dinger.
Stripers 11, Saints 0 (Thursday)
Starter Varland threw so many pitches (42) in the 1st inning that Williams switched positions with him to get the final out of the frame. Then Williams put the first 2 Stripers of the 2nd stanza on base to satisfy the the 3-batter relief pitching minimum. Varland and Williams switched spots again and Varland gave up a 3-run homer. It was that kind of day on the Fourth of July before an announced attendance of 8,295.
Stripers 21, Saints 6 (Wednesday)
Yuck! 9,189 announced attendance. Eighteen thousand, three hundred and seventy-eight eyes were covered.
Saints 5, Stripers 2 (Tuesday)
Dobnak pitched 5 innings of 1-run baseball and Lee smashed a 3-run roundtripper in his last game before his first call-up to The Show.
This Week:
The Saints’ games in Louisville Tuesday through Saturday all begin at 5:30 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. The Sunday finale starts at 12:05 p.m. They will air on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.