DES MOINES, IA (August 15, 2026) - The St. Paul Saints pitching staff continues to flourish in the second half of the season. On Saturday night in Game 1 of a doubleheader they helped snap a four-game losing streak by tying a franchise record with their eighth shutout of the season. Kendry Rojas and Jack Anderson combined on a six-hit shutout of the Iowa Cubs, 6-0 at Principal Park.
For the second time in the week, Rojas got a start against the I-Cubs. He danced around small jams in the first three innings, allowing the leadoff man to reach on singles from the first through third. He left two runners stranded in the first and one each in the second and third before retiring the side in order in the fourth. Rojas went 4.0 shutout innings allowing four hits while walking one and striking out five. He threw 52 pitches, 40 for strikes and got 13 swings and misses on 34 swings.
After not collecting a hit in the first three innings, the Saints collected a hit and a couple of runs. Emmanuel Rodriguez led off by reaching on a hit by pitch. Matt Wallner singled to right-center putting runners at first and second. A fielder’s choice put runners at the corners. With two outs Tristan Gray bounced an RBI single into right giving the Saints a 1-0 lead. Cody Morissette then blooped an RBI double down the left field line increasing the lead to 2-0.
Jack Anderson took over for Rojas and was equally as effective. He allowed a one out double in the fifth, a two-out walk in the sixth, and a two-out single in the seventh, but left them all stranded. He went 3.0 shutout innings allowing two hits, while walking one, and striking out five.
The Saints added insurance in the sixth. With Hendry Mendez at third and Gray at first. Gray stole second and the throw down to second went into center field allowing Mendez to score pushing the lead to 3-0. Morissette then unloaded on a two-run homer to right, his 10th of the season and ninth with the Saints, making it 5-0. Morissette went 2-3 with a double, home run, three RBI, and a run scored.
Walker Jenkins led off the seventh with a walk, moved to second on a single by Ben Ross, took third on a fly out, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wallner making it 6-0.
The eight shutouts for the Saints ties the 2021 team for most shutouts in a single-season as a Triple-A franchise.