Indianapolis Capitalized on Four Saints Errors

Saint Paul, Minnesota – It was not poor pitching nor lack of offense that was the problem for the Saints on Wednesday night. The Saints could not get out of their own way committing four errors in critical times. Indianapolis capitalized on the mistakes and defeated the St. Paul Saints by a score of 4-3 in front of 8,783. The Saints fell to 66-49 on the season. 

Indianapolis got on the board in the first, and the critical errors started in the first. Ji Hwan Bae (MLB Rehab Assignment) singled to left on the very first pitch of the game thrown by Saints starter Louie Varland. Next, Nick Gonzales singled to right. Bae attempted to go from first to third. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. fielded the ball in right and attempted to throw Bae out at third; however, the ball was overthrown and ended up in the seats. This allowed Bae to score, and the Guardians had a 1-0 lead. 

In the third, Nick Gonzales hit a solo home run to left. This was his seventh of the season. This gave Indianapolis a 2-0 lead. 

The Saints would tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Keirsey Jr. singled and Hernan Perez doubled. Andrew Stevenson hit an RBI single to left, which put the Saints within one. Brooks Lee grounded into a double play, but Perez scored to tie the game at two. 

The Saints would commit another critical error in the fifth. Ji Hwan Bae doubled to left. A throwing error by Saints left fielder Gilberto Celestino allowed Bae to come all the way around the bases to score, Indianapolis took a 3-2 lead. 

In the sixth, Celestino doubled. Yunior Severino and Austin Martin walked. With the bases loaded and one out, Chris Williams hit a sacrifice fly to center, which allowed Celestino to score. The game was tied at three. 

The final nail in the coffin for the Saints would come in the ninth. Mason Martin singled, and Bae grounded out to short. Nick Gonzales singled to left. Celestino committed a fielding error, which allowed Martin to score. Indianapolis took a 4-3 lead. The Guardians would hang on and take game two from the Saints. 

Louie Varland started for the Saints. Varland worked 6.2 innings allowing six hits. Varland allowed three runs (one earned). He struck out five and walked three. Moran came on to relieve Varland. Moran worked 1.1 innings allowing one hit. Ortega took the loss. His first of the season. Ortega worked one inning allowing two hits. He allowed an unearned run. 

Out of the four runs scored by the Guardians on Wednesday night only one was earned. 

The Indianapolis Guardians and St. Paul Saints meet in game three of a six-game series on Thursday night at CHS Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. The Guardians will send LHP Cam Aldred (7-5, 5.14) to the mound while the Saints will counter with RHP Blayne Enlow (2-5, 9.58). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, MiLB.TV, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.