IL St. Paul Saints

Saints' 25-Game Home Run Streak Comes to an End in 6-0 Loss to Mud Hens

Published on June 22, 2023 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


TOLEDO, OH - Over the last 25 games at least one St. Paul Saints player launched a ball over the wall. They totaled 45 home runs during the longest home run streak by any team, at any level, this season. On Thursday night at Fifth Third Field that home run streak came to an end. Not only did it come to an end, but the Saints were blanked for the first time since April 16, losing 6-0 to the Toledo Mud Hens.

The Mud Hens jumped out to a lead in the first without getting the ball out of the infield. Parker Meadows led off with an infield single to third and took second on a stolen base. Then, on a backpick by catcher Jair Camargo down to second, the ball wound up in centerfield and Meadows took third on the error. A ground out by Nick Solak gave the Mud Hens a 1-0 lead.

One of the more prolific hitting teams with the bases loaded, the Saints had a golden opportunity in the third when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Elliot Soto led off with a walk, Andrew Stevenson walked, and Jose Miranda reached on an infield single. Matt Wallner, however, struck out and Trevor Larnach lined into a double play.

In the bottom of the inning, the Mud Hens tacked on another run. Meadows led off the inning with a single to left, moved to second on a ground out, took third on a single from Justyn-Henry Malloy, and scored on a sacrifice lineout by Tyler Nevin making it 2-0.

The Saints had a chance to score in the fifth when Soto tripled with one out, but Stevenson bounced back to the mound and Miranda struck out.

Nevin made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to right, his third of the season.

Infielder Andrew Bechtold made his 2023 pitching debut. Over the last month he has worked on becoming a two-way player by throwing bullpen sessions and live. He was impressive in his debut throwing a scoreless sixth inning giving up a hit, walking one, and struck out the first batter he faced. His fastball averaged 96.9 mph and topped out at 98.1 mph with an average spin rate of 2401. He threw nine of 14 fastballs for strikes. Bechtold also threw seven sliders, two for strikes.

The Saints loaded the bases in the eighth with two outs as Soto led off with a hit by pitch, Stevenson extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single to short, and Larnach reached on a two out walk, but Chris Williams bounced into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

The Mud Hens put the game away in the eighth. The first four batters reached as Andre Lipcius led off with a walk, Donny Sands singled, and Andrew Knapp walked to load the bases. Corey Joyce made it 5-0 with a two-run double down the third base line. With one out, Meadows' sacrifice fly gave the Mud Hens a 6-0 lead.

The same two teams meet in game four of the six-game series on Friday at 6:05 p.m. (CT) at Fifth Third Field. The Saints send RHP Louie Varland (2-0, 4.20) to the mound against Mud Hens LHP Bryan Sammons (0-1, 7.59). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from June 22, 2023


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