Four Years To The Day Since The Franchise's First Cycle, Emmanuel Rodriguez Completes the Feat Against the Same Team In 11-2 Win Over Storm Chasers
PAPILLION, NE (September 1, 2026) - Mark your calendars for September 1, 2030. The St. Paul Saints are almost assured of their third cycle in franchise history. Four years to the day since their first ever cycle in franchise history, when Matt Wallner did it at CHS Field against the
PAPILLION, NE (September 1, 2026) - Mark your calendars for September 1, 2030. The St. Paul Saints are almost assured of their third cycle in franchise history. Four years to the day since their first ever cycle in franchise history, when Matt Wallner did it at CHS Field against the Omaha Storm Chasers, Emmanuel Rodriguez stole the headlines from two Major League rehab pitchers in Tony Gonsolin and Joe Ryan, by hitting for the second ever cycle in franchise history in an 11-2 win over the, who else, Storm Chasers at Werner Park.
The Saints pounced on Gonsolin in the first as the first five hitters reached, but the first three accounted for the runs. Rodriguez led off with an infield single to the right of second base as the shortstop Alejo Lopez fielded it, but his running throw pulled Brett Squires off the bag. That was followed by an Alan Roden line drive single to right. Aaron Sabato then deposited a three-run homer over the left field wall, his 23rd of the season, making it 3-0.
On the other side, Ryan breezed through his first inning, retiring the side in order on just six pitches.
Tanner Schobel led off the second inning for the Saints with a single to right and he scored on Rodriguez’ double to left-center, and an erorr, when the left fielder Colton Becker bobbled the ball increasing the lead to 4-0.
Ryan gave up a solo homer to Carson Roccaforte in the second, his third at Triple-A after hitting 30 at Double-A, cutting the Saints lead to 4-1.
Cody Morissette answered that homer with a long ball of his own, a solo blast to right, his 13th of the season and 12th with the Saints, upping the lead to 5-1.
Ryan finished off his night in the third striking out the side as he fanned the final four hitters he faced. He went 3.0 innings allowing one run on one hit and striking out four. He threw 42 pitches, 29 for strikes. His fastball averaged 91.4 mph and topped out at 92.6 mph while getting 4 swings and misses on 18 swings
The game was blown wide open in the sixth when the Saints sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs. Tristan Gray led off with a single to center and Schobel walked. A failed pickoff attempt at second that went into center field sent the runners up 90 feet. David Bañuelos made the mistake a costly one as he dropped a two-run double into left upping the lead to 7-1. Rodriguez made it 8-1 with an RBI triple to left-center.. Roden was then hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and third. Roden stole second and a wild pitch scored a run giving the Saints a 9-1 lead. With one out, Matt Wallner walked and Hendry Mendez made it 10-1 with an RBI single to left.
Rodriguez finished off the cycle in the seventh when he took a 1-1 sweeper from Ben Sears and mashed it 415 feet over the center field wall, his 11th of the season, making it 11-1. He joins Wallner, who went 5-6 with six RBI and two runs scored on September 1, 2022 against the Storm Chasers at CHS Field, as the only two players in the entire franchise history, dating back to 1993, to hit for the cycle.
The Storm Chasers made it 11-2 in the seventh on three singles by Jacob Berry and with two outs from Gavin Cross and Alejo Lopez, the latter driving in a run.
The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. at Werner Park. The Saints send RHP Ricky Castro (3-3, 5.36) to the mound against Storm Chasers LHP Ryan Ramsey (5-7, 5.91). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.