Rochester falls 11-7 to the Saints.
By Nick Grasso / Rochester Red Wings
ST. PAUL, MN. — The Rochester Red Wings lost a heartbreaker, 11-7, to the St. Paul Saints on Saturday night, extending their season-long losing streak to five games.
Rochester again struggled on the mound early, as starting RHP Cole Henry gave up six hits and four runs through three innings. Both Sam Clay and Cory Abbott allowed two runs apiece until LHP Alberto Baldonado took the mound. Baldonado allowed the Saints to take over with four hits and three runs in the bottom of the eighth.
The Wings struck first when DH Joey Meneses grounded into a double play that allowed LF Andrew Stevenson to reach home in the first. St. Paul homered in the bottom to tie it at 1-1.
RF Josh Palacios has recorded a home run in three straight games, with Saturday’s coming in the form of a two-run bomb in the third. He collected three runs and two RBI on the day. 3B Richard Urena registered a two-run homer in the sixth, as Rochester managed to hang around.
Back and forth scoring had the Wings down 7-6 in the sixth inning, but they allowed the Saints to score to make it 8-6. Rochester climbed back again in the eighth off a Richard Urena RBI to make it 8-7.
St. Paul’s Alex Kiriloff made it tough on Rochester’s pitchers, registering two homers and three runs in five at bats.
With Saturday’s loss, Rochester’s record drops to 35-24 on the year.
In serious danger of being swept by the Saints, Rochester will have one more chance to secure a win in Minnesota at 3:07 p.m. on Sunday for the final game in this series.