ST. PAUL, MN (August 9, 2026) - There was bound to be one clunker for the St. Paul Saints. They carried a six-game winning streak into Sunday afternoon’s game against the Louisville Bats. They had a nine-game winning streak against the Bats. All of that came to an end in an 11-3 loss at CHS Field in front of 6,853.
Two long balls put the Saints behind in the second. Leo Balcazar led off with a walk and with two outs Dayne Leonard was hit by a pitch. The Bats capitalized when Francisco Urbaez hit a three-run homer to left, his fifth of the season, making it 3-0. Edwin Arroyo followed with a solo homer to center, his 13th of the season, increasing the lead to 4-0.
The first three hitters reached for the Bats in third that led to a pair of runs. Michael Chavis lined the first pitch of the inning into center. Juan Brito’s ground rule double to left-center put runners at second and third. Balcazar collected his first Triple-A hit, an RBI single to left upping the Bats lead to 5-0. Austin Hendrick’s RBI fielder’s choice increased the lead to 6-0.
The third home run of the game for the Bats made it 8-0. Urbaez led off the fourth inning with a double and with one out Michael Toglia launched one over the right-center field wall, his 22nd of the season.
With one out in the fifth Kala’i Rosario broke up the no-hitter with a monster solo shot to left, his second with the Saints, making 8-1.
The Bats grabbed that run back in the sixth when Leonard was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and then scored on a one out double by Arroyo, pushing the lead to 9-1.
For good measure the Bats added a run in the eighth. The first three hitters loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. A sacrifice fly by Chavis put the Bats up 10-1.
For the second consecutive game Ben Ross went deep for the Saints. With a man aboard Ross clobbered a two-run homer inside the pole in left, his 12th of the season, making it 10-3.
Will Banfield answered for the Bats in the ninth with a solo homer of his own, his 11th of the season, pushing the lead to 11-3.
The Saints are off on Monday and return to action on Tuesday night in the Minor League Field of Dreams game against the Iowa Cubs in Dyersville, IA at 6:38 p.m. The Saints send LHP Kendry Rojas (2-0, 3.96) to the mound against I-Cubs LHP Jordan Wicks (1-9, 6.71). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM presented by Northland Ford Dealers.