IL St. Paul Saints

Helman's Career High Five Hits Lead Way in 13-4 Saints' Victory over Storm Chasers

Published on August 2, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


OMAHA, NE - On trade deadline day, the St. Paul Saints lost Top 15 prospect Spencer Steer and Jake Cave, who led the team in home runs, RBI, and runs scored, went up to the Minnesota Twins. A couple of days ago they lost .400 hitter Tim Beckham. It didn't seem to bother them on Tuesday night as the hammered the Omaha Storm Chasers 13-4 as Michael Helman collected a career high five hits, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

Eight of the nine Saints players collected a hit, seven of nine scored a run, and six of nine had an RBI. The Saints scored in six of nine innings, had a hit in eight of nine, slugged five doubles and four home runs.

The Saints came out swinging in the first inning. Helman led off the game with a ground rule double to left-center. Jermaine Palacios reached on a fielding error by the first baseman José Briceño. Matt Wallner knocked them both home with a double to right-center putting the Saints up 2-0. With one out John Andreoli drilled a two-run homer to left field, his eighth of the season, making it 4-0.

With the score 4-1 in the third, the Saints cashed in on another error. With one out, Roy Morales doubled to left. He came around to score when Elliot Soto's groundball went under the glove of a charging Iván Castillo at short that scored Morales increasing the lead to 5-1.

The Storm Chasers made it a one run game in the bottom of the inning as Angelo Castellano led off with a walk. Castillo dropped a bloop double just inside the chalk down the right field line putting runners at second and third. Drew Waters made it 5-3 with a two-run triple to right-center. He scored on a sacrifice lineout by Nate Eaton cutting the Saints lead to one at 5-4.

From there it was all Saints as they scored eight unanswered runs. In the fourth, the Saints tacked on two more runs. With one out, David Bañuelos singled to center. The next hitter, Helman, drilled a two-run home run to left-center, his first of the night and seventh of the season, giving the Saints a 7-4 lead.

Morales led off the fifth with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Curtis knocked him in with a single to left making it 8-4 Saints.

The Saints scored in their fourth consecutive inning by putting up four in the sixth. Braden Bishop led off with a double and Bañuelos followed with a two-run homer to left, his seventh of the season, making it 10-4. Helman singled, stole second, and moved to third on a single by Palacios. With one out, back-to-back RBI singles by Morales and Andreoli gave the Saints a 12-4 lead. Andreoli finished the night 2-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored.

Helman finished off his incredible night with a solo homer in the eighth, his second of the night and eighth of the season. He finished the night 5-5 with a double, two home runs, three RBI, and a career tying high four runs scored. He's the first Saints player to go 5-5 and just the second player in franchise history to collect five hits. Jose Miranda went 5-6 in his Saints debut on June 29, 2021.

The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Werner Park. The Saints send RHP Ronny Henriquez (1-4, 5.71) to the mound against Storm Chasers LHP Marcelo Martinez (3-5, 6.46). The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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