Larnach's Two Home Runs Help Propel Saints To Comeback Win, 8-7 Over Indianapolis

_ST. PAUL, MN _*(May 11, 2023) - *The St. Paul Saints rolled out an extremely deep lineup on Thursday night at CHS Field. The offense came through after trailing 5-1 as they got two home runs from Trevor Larnach in a come from behind 8-7 victory over the Indianapolis Indians in front of 4,322.

With the Saints down 5-4 in the seventh, the Saints took the lead for the first time. Larnach led off the inning with his second home run of the night, his second of the season, tying the game at five. Garlick walked and Contreras doubled him to third. Helman made it 7-5 with a two-run triple to right-center. Helman then scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Andrew Stevenson when he hit a ground ball to a drawn in infield at short, but Capra’s throw was high and went to the backstop as the Saints grabbed an 8-5 lead.

The Indians made a game of it in the ninth inning. With Josh Winder throwing his second inning of relief, Grant Koch led off with an infield single to third. Chavez Young made it a one run game with a two-run homer to right, his second of the season. With two outs, Indianapolis loaded the bases on a single by Ryan Vilade, a hit by pitch to Cal Mitchell, and a walk to Jared Triolo. On a 3-2 pitch, Winder got Malcom Nuñez to hit a ground ball to Jose Miranda at third, who raced to the third base bag ahead of Mitchell to end the game.

The teams traded runs in the second inning as the Indians got on the board in the top of the inning. Mitchell led off with a double to right, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Nuñez’ groundout to third giving the Indians a 1-0 lead.

The Saints answered back in the bottom of the inning without a hit as Mark Contreras led off the inning with a walk. He stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored when Ryan LaMarre reached on a throwing error by shortstop Vinny Capra tying the game at one.

The Indians used two home runs in the third to retake the lead. Koch led off the inning with a solo homer to left, his second of the season, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. With one out, Capra singled and with two outs Vilade reached on an infield single to second. Mitchell then hit a three-run homer to right, his fourth of the season, increasing the lead to 5-1.

Larnach got one back with a solo homer to right, his first of the season, making it 5-2.

The Saints got to within a run in the fifth as reliever J.C. Flowers had trouble finding the strike zone. With two outs and nobody on, Flowers walked four consecutive batters: Larnach, Kyle Garlick, Contreras, and Michael Helman with the last one forcing in a run to make it 5-3. Andrew Stevenson’s infield single to short plated Garlick making it 5-4, but Contreras was caught in a rundown when he took too far of a turn off third.

Saints reliever Cody Laweryson was tremendous and kept his team in the game by throwing 2.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit while walking two and striking out three to pick up the win.

The same two teams meet in game four of a six-game series on Friday night at 6:37 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send LHP Brent Headrick (0-0, 7.11) to the mound against Indians RHP Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.44). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, the Bally Live app (free), and MiLB.TV (subscription), and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.