The curtain came down on the 2026 season for the St. Paul Saints. Despite a 5-3 loss to the Columbus Clippers on Sunday afternoon at Huntington Park, it will be remembered as one of the most successful seasons in franchise history. The Saints finished the year 82-67, second most wins in franchise history.
The Clippers got on the board in the first. With one out Kahlil Watson singled to right-center, moved to second on a ground out, and scored when Kyle Manzardo hit a one hopper to first that glanced off the glove of Jake Rucker and went into right field for an RBI single making it 1-0.
The top of the order got it started for the Clippers in the third as Cooper Ingle doubled to left and Watson singled to center putting runners at the corners. Watson stole second and both scored on a bloop single to center by Manzardo increasing the Clippers lead to 3-0.
The Saints scored a pair in the fourth to get within a run. Kala’i Rosario started the inning with an infield single to third. With one out Tanner Schobel doubled to right that moved Rosario to third. A sacrifice fly by Tristan Gray and an RBI single to left by Jake Rucker cut the Saints deficit to 3-2.
Tanner Schobel tied it in the sixth with a solo homer to left, his seventh of the season. It was the 251st home run hit by the Saints this season, second most in Minor League history only behind the 2019 El Paso Chihuahuas who hit 258 (the Sacramento Solons of 1974 hit 305 home runs, but they played in a converted football stadium in which the left field wall was 233 feet away).
The Clippers regained the lead in the seventh. With two outs and nobody on Ingle doubled to right-center and scored on Watson’s single to left making it 4-3. After a walk to Ralphy Velazquez, Manzardo’s grounder kicked off the glove of Rucker at first and into shallow right allowing Watson to score on the error increasing the lead to 5-3.
The Saints put the tying runs on in the ninth with a leadoff walk and a two out walk, but left them stranded.
The Saints finished 41-34 at home and a franchise record 41 wins on the road with 33 losses. Their 839 runs scored were second most in franchise history and the 251 home runs were a franchise record, most in International League history, and the second most in Minor League baseball history.
(info courtesy of Saints Baseball)
