One thing was clear before the first pitch was even thrown in the game between the Saints and Iowa Cubs on Saturday afternoon at CHS Field: All Triple-A rosters are not created equal.
Due to a rash of injuries on its own team as well as on the Twins, the Saints could offer no more than a patchwork lineup. The Cubs’ lineup was filled with top prospects from within the organization and a number of players with major-league experience.
The Saints managed to make a game of it but fell 4-3 to the Cubs, as they dropped to 1-4 in the series that concludes on Sunday.
“That’s Triple-A baseball at its best,” Saints manager Toby Gardenhire said of the lineup disparity. “In two weeks it might be the complete opposite. So you never know. Around here we just kind of roll with the punches and do the best we can.”
The Saints announced a series of roster changes prior to the game. Utility man Michael Helman was placed on the seven-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. Catcher Jair Camargo and right-handed reliever Matt Bowman were called up by the Twins after right-handed starter Simeon Woods Richardson joined the Twins on Friday.
The Saints already are without injured shortstop Brooks Lee (lower back), outfielder Trevor Larnach (turf toe), right-handed relievers Austin Schulfer (right forearm strain) and Jeff Brigham (left oblique strain) and right-handed starter Matt Canterino (right rotator cuff strain).
Lefty reliever Jovani Moran will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The Saints added infielder Dalton Shuffield, a 10th-round draft pick in 2022, from Double-A Wichita.
“It’ll swing back,” Gardenhire said of the numerous injuries. “We’ve just got to try to grind it out until it does,”
Larnach, who is rehabbing at the Twins’ complex in Fort Myers, Fla., is expected to join the Saints on the road next week, Gardenhire said. As for calling for more reinforcements from Wichita, Gardenhire said that isn’t a likely option.
“They have a bunch of young guys who need to play down there,” Gardenhire said. “At some point we’ll get some more Double-A guys, but right now it’s more about getting guys back.”
Burnsville native Aaron Rozek made his Saints debut after being called up from Wichita last week. The 28-year-old left-hander got the last-minute start to replace Woods Richardson in what turned out to be a bullpen game for the Saints.
Rozek pitched three innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, including a two-run home run by Patrick Wisdom in the first inning.
Ryan Jensen came on and extended his scoreless inning streak with the Saints to 5 2/3, striking out four.
“He’s got great stuff,” Gardenhire said. “Nobody wants to face him in the box; his stuff is nasty. If he can keep doing the stuff he’s doing, he’s got a chance to be pretty good for us — and hopefully get up to the big leagues and help them.”
The Saints trailed 3-0 in the fifth when center fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. hit a two-run home run. The Saints tied the game an inning later on a run-scoring double by Alex Isola.
The Cubs scratched across the eventual winning run in the eighth inning off of reliever Scott Blewett, whose throwing error on a pickoff attempt led to an unearned run.
“I was proud of the guys; we battled,’ Gardenhire said. “Rozek went out there and pitched and did a good job. Our bullpen was outstanding again. We had some good swings and got back into the game.
“We gave ourselves a chance to win, but we just couldn’t pull it out in the end.”
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