Sabato’s Two Homers, Strong Pitching Through Eight All for Naught in 6-5, 10 Inning Walk-Off Loss

Published on September 3, 2025 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release

LOUISVILLE, KY – The final three outs of the game have been the most difficult for the St. Paul Saints to record this season. On Wednesday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field the Saints played solid baseball for eight innings. They scored runs with timely hits and power, they pitched incredibly well, and made highlight worthy defensive plays. For the seventh time this season, however, the Saints carried a lead into the ninth inning and couldn’t hang on. They saw a 5-2 lead slip away and fell 6-5 in 10 innings for their 11th walk-off loss this season, the second most in franchise history.

With the Saints up 5-2 in the ninth the late innings issues reared its ugly head. Back-to-back doubles to start the inning by Connor Joe and P.J. Higgins cut the Saints lead to 5-3. With one out Rece Hinds tied it with a two-run homer to left-center, his 22nd of the season, tying the game at five. The Saints 5.75 ERA in the ninth inning ranks 113th out of 120 Minor League teams.

In the top of the 10th, the Saints failed to get placed runner Noah Cardenas home. After he advanced to third on a fly out, Gabby Gonzalez struck out. Walker Jenkins then walked, and Carson McCusker reached on catcher’s interference. With the bases loaded Sabato, who had a tremendous day, barreled up a ball, but hit it right at the shortstop to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 10th it took two batters for the Bats to walk it off. Placed runner Davis Wendzel was sacrificed to third and Levi Jordan lined a game winning single into left-center. The 11 walk off losses this season are only surpassed by the 13 in 2022.

The day started out on a positive note for the Saints as Jenkins collected his first Triple-A RBI in the first inning to give the Saints the lead. With one out Gonzalez singled to left and that was followed by a Jenkins RBI double into right-center putting the Saints up 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long as the Bats grabbed a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out Héctor Rodríguez singled to left-center and that was followed by a two-run homer from Major Leaguer rehabber Tyler Stephenson, his second with the Bats, making it 2-1. It was the only mistake Andrew Morris made on the day. He retired 13 of the final 15 hitters he faced going 5.0 innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five.

The Saints got a home run of their own in the second to tie it up as…