Saints lose; Kepler goes 0-for-3

Twins outfielder Max Kepler, on a rehab stint with the St. Paul Saints, went 0 for 3 Tuesday night at CHS Field as the Saints lost to the Iowa Cubs 3-1.

PitcherBryan Sammons didn’t expect to enter the game in the first inning for the St. Paul Saints. When he did, he kept his team in the game. The Saints had a couple of chances late, but couldn’t comeback on the Iowa Cubs, losing 3-1 on Tuesday night at CHS Field in front of 5,230.

Saints starter Jhoan Duran didn’t have his best stuff and lasted just 0.2 of an inning, the second shortest outing in his career. After retiring the first batter of the game he walked the next two hitters. A double down the first base line by Michael Hermosillo scored Nick Maritini giving the Iowa Cubs a 1-0 lead. Duran then walked Taylor Gushue to load the bases. Abiatal Avenlino hit a hot shot down the third base line that Drew Maggi dove for, fielded, lunged to third to get the out, but his throw from his knees across the diamond wasn’t in time and Trayce Thompson scored making it 2-0. Duran faced one more batter, Tony Wolters who lined a shot off the bottom of Duran’s cleat to load the bases. Sammons came on in relief and retired Tyler Ladendorf on a fly out to end the inning.

Sammons shut the door on the I-Cubs until the fifth when he made his only mistake of the night, giving up a two-out solo homer to Hermosillo, his third of the season, to make it 3-0. Sammons went 5.1 innings allowing one run on one hit while walking four and striking out two.

The Saints offense was kept hitless until JT Riddle led off the sixth with a single to center. With one out, Max Kepler reached on a fielder’s choice when he hit a comebacker to Jake Jewell and his throw to second went into center field. With runners at first and second and one out Brent Rooker grounded into an inning ending double play. Kepler finished his second rehab game 0-3.

The Saints got their lone run in the eighth when Keon Broxton singled with one out. With two outs Tomás Telis singled Broxton to second. A walk to Jimmy Kerrigan loaded the bases and prompted a pitching change as the lefty Kyle Ryan came on to face Rooker. Ryan walked Rooker to force in a run and cut the deficit to two. Mark Contreras would strikeout to end the inning.

The same two teams meet in game two of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Chandler Shepherd (1-2, 8.10) to the mound against I-Cubs RHP Matt Swarmer (0-2, 21.94).