Offense Shines In 11-6 Win Over Mud Hens

TOLEDO, OH (May 8, 2024) - Maybe the St. Paul Saints are slowly starting to figure out how to hit at Fifth Third Field. They came into Wednesday morning’s game with a .233 average in 33 games in Toledo, the lowest of any International League ballpark. A night after producing three home runs, they set a franchise record for runs scored at Fifth Third Field and the second most hits, 15, in an 11-6 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens on Wednesday morning.

The Saints got contributions from everyone in the lineup as all nine players scored a run and reached base safely, seven of nine collected a hit, and five of nine had an RBI.

With two out and nobody on in the top of the second the Saints managed to score five runs. Chris Williams started it with a walk. Diego Castillo lined a single into left-center as Williams took third. After Castillo stole second, Yoyner Fajardo lined a single off the glove of pitcher Keider Montero that scored Williams putting the Saints up 1-0. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. ripped a two-run triple to center increasing the lead to 3-0. Keirsey Jr. went 2-5 with a double, triple, two RBI, and two runs scored. After chasing Montero, Angel Reyes came out of the bullpen and plunked Anthony Prato. Matt Wallner followed with a two-run triple to left-center making it 5-0. It was the fourth time in franchise history the Saints tripled twice in one inning.

The Saints increased the lead in the third when Yunior Severino walked, moved to second on a single by Williams, and scored on a single by Castillo making it 6-0. Williams finished the game 3-4 with a double, and a run scored.

With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the fourth the Mud Hens got on the board, the only run starter Calbe Boushley allowed. Parker Meadows singled to right, stole second, and scored on a single to right by Akil Baddoo cutting the Saints lead to 6-1. Boushley went 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out three. He has now struck out 33 and walked just five in 36.2 innings pitched.

Josh Winder made his first Major League rehab appearance for the Saints in the sixth. Baddoo led off the inning by reaching on catcher’s interference. With one out he stole second and scored on a single to left by Keston Huira cutting the Saints lead to 6-2. Buddy Kennedy walked and Justice Bigbie singled home two making it 6-4. Winder went 1.2 inning allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out one.

Alex Isola got one of those runs back by leading off the seventh with a solo homer to left, his third of the season, giving the Saints a 7-4 lead.

The Saints put the game away in the eighth as they plated four runs. Back-to-back walks to Keirsey Jr. and Prato started the inning. Wallner’s RBI single into right gave the Saints an 8-4 lead. Wallner went 3-6 with a triple, three RBI, and a run scored. A walk to Michael Helman loaded the bases. A wild pitch scored Prato to make it 9-4. Isola made it 11-4 with a two-run single to left. Isola finished the day 2-5 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored.

With two out and a runner on first in the bottom of the inning the Mud Hens made it 11-5 on back-to-back singles from Bigbie and Anthony Benboom, the latter scoring the run.

The Mud Hens tacked on a run in the ninth when Baddoo tripled to center and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jace Jung.

The same two teams meet in game three of a six-game series on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field at 5:35 p.m. (CT). The Saints send RHP Louie Varland (1-0, 0.75) to the mound against Mud Hens LHP Brant Hurter (0-1, 5.25). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.