IL St. Paul Saints

Beckham's Slam, Saints' Offense Take Down Top Team, Rochester Red Wings 10-6

Published on June 7, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The former Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins came to town to face off against the current Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The Rochester Red Wings entered play with the top record in the International League. The St. Paul Saints' offense couldn't have cared less. They slugged two more home runs, including a grand slam from Tim Beckham, in a 10-6 victory at CHS Field in front of 5072.

The Saints fell behind 2-0 in the first inning when Ildemaro Vargas, who reached on a fielder's choice, took second on a wild pitch. Joey Meneses lined a single into left that scored Vargas and Meneses took second when the ball skipped by left fielder Mark Contreras. With two outs, Jake Noll doubled home Meneses.

The Saints wasted no time tying the game up in the bottom of the inning. Spencer Steer led off with a hit by pitch. Beckham got the Saints on the board with an RBI double to right-center cutting the deficit to 2-1. Jake Cave then singled up the middle to drive in Beckham knotting the game at two.

The Red Wings grabbed an unearned run in the second when Adrian Sanchez reached with one out on a fielding error by Beckham at third. Sanchez stole second and scored on a double from Andrew Stevenson making it 3-2 Red Wings.

The Saints, who had homered in 11 consecutive games had the tall task of facing the pitching staff that had given up the fewest home runs. Steer, who homered three times on Sunday, led off the fourth inning with a solo blast to left, his seventh in 14 games with the Saints, tying the game at three. Steer finished the night 2-4 with a home run, RBI, and three runs scored. He has now scored eight runs in his last two games. The Saints have now homered in 12 straight games, three shy of their franchise record. With two outs Cave walked and scored on a Mark Contreras double putting the Saints on top 4-3.

The Red Wings tied the game in the fourth courtesy of a solo homer from Tres Barrera, his seventh of the season.

The Saints took the lead in grand fashion in the fourth. With one out, Caleb Hamilton singled to left. Steer singled through the right side putting runners at first and second. Alex Kirilloff was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Beckham then launched a grand slam to left, his third home run in five games with the Saints and fifth career grand slam, putting the Saints up 8-4. Beckham finished the night 2-4 with a grand slam, five RBI, and two runs scored.

In the fifth, the Saints added to their lead as Contreras led off with a double down the right field line. With one out, Cole Sturgeon singled him home increasing the lead to 9-4. Hamilton walked and José Godoy made it 10-4 with an RBI single to left.

The Red Wings grabbed two back in the seventh as Ildemaro Vargas ledo ff with a single and that was followed by a two-run homer from Meneses, his 13th of the season, making it a four-run game at 10-6.

Jake Petricka tossed 2.0 hitless, shutout innings to finish off the night for the Saints.

The same two teams meet in game two of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:07 p.m. The Saints send RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-0, 3.60) to the mound against Red Wings RHP Sterling Sharp (1-1, 5.14). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities area, and MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from June 7, 2022


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