Saints Offensive Onslaught Continues With 13-4 Thrashing Of Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 14, 2021) - The St. Paul Saints just finished up a series with the Omaha Storm Chasers in which they scored 17 runs and 21 runs in a game. They didn’t quite match either of those totals, but they pounded out four homers, scored six in the second and took down the Indianapolis Indians 13-4 on Tuesday night at Victory Field.

For the fifth time in their last five games they Saints put up at least six runs in an inning when they put up half a dozen in the second. Mark Contreras led off with a solo blast to straightaway center, his 16th of the season, making it 1-0 Saints. Jimmy Kerrigan followed with a single to left-center and BJ Boyd walked. A flyout by Sherman Johnson moved Kerrigan to third. JT Riddle hit a grounder to first, but John Nogowski’s throw home was a little offline and Boyd slid in safely giving the Saints a 2-0 lead. Damek Tomscha made it 3-0 with an RBI double to left. Jose Miranda then drilled a three-run homer to left, his 14th of the season, putting the Saints up 6-0.

In the fourth, the Saints tacked on two more as Tomscha led off the inning with a single to right. He moved to third on a single by Riddle. Miranda then hit a hot smash through the legs of the third baseman Hunter Owen as the error scored Tomscha to make it 7-0. Miranda went 2-5 with a home run, four RBI and a run scored. Tomás Telis gave the Saints an 8-0 with an RBI fielder’s choice.

Saints starter Drew Strotman had one of his best starts for the Saints. He pitched around small jams in the first three innings before the Indians got one back in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo homer by Hunter Owen, his team leading 17th of the season, making it 8-1 Saints.

The teams traded solo homers in the sixth as Tomscha smashed a solo homer to left, his 10th of the season, increasing the Saints lead to 9-1.

In the bottom of the inning Bligh Madriss hit a solo homer to right, his ninth of the season, making it 9-2. Strotman went a season tying high 6.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out four.

The Saints continued pouring it on in the seventh with their fourth homer of the night. Kerrigan led off with a double to right-center and BJ Boyd’s infield single moved him to third. Kerrigan went 3-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Sherman Johnson unloaded on a three-run homer to right, his fifth of the season, putting the Saints up 12-2. The Saints then loaded the bases on a single from Tomscha, a walk to Riddle, and a single by Miranda. Telis’ double play ground out scored Tomscha increasing the lead to 13-2. Tomscha finished with four hits, a triple shy of the cycle, with two RBI and four runs scored.

The same two teams meet in game two of the six-game series at 11:05 a.m. at Victory Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Saints send Beau Burrows (2-5, 6.16) to the mound against Indians RHP Tanner Anderson (5-3, 3.83). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.