Dallas Keuchel gets win in what’s likely his last game with Saints

Dallas Keuchel picked up his first victory as a member of the St. Paul Saints on Friday night at CHS Field. The question now is whether it was his swan song in St. Paul.

Keuchel pitched six innings in the Saints’ 8-2 win over the Toledo Mud Hens, allowing two runs on six hits. The 35-year-old left-hander, who signed a minor league deal with the Twins on June 22, can opt out of his deal and become a free agent if the Twins don’t promote him to the majors by Tuesday.

“The organization has been transparent with me throughout the process,” Keuchel said. “My first opt out was good, but at the same time a lot of teams that need help are still trying to figure out moves in the big leagues.

“I’m still trying to get my bearings. This is the place I wanted to be, and I’d still like to be up with Minnesota. I think I’ve provided what I needed to do and shown myself as well.”

Either way he probably pitched his last game with the Saints.

“I don’t think I’m coming back if it’s another minor league stint,” Keuchel said.

With a number of teams looking to add starting pitching at the trade deadline, it seems all but certain that one of them would instead opt to sign the former Cy Young Award winner should he become available.

There’s also the chance that the Twins, if they decide not to promote him, can offer him to other teams in a trade.

Keuchel has been solid in all six of his starts with the Saints. His earned run average stands at 1.13 in 32 innings of work. He pitched six innings for the third straight outing, striking out eight while walking only one.

“I’m very happy with the outcome and how I felt coming into it,” Keuchel said. “I kind of pushed myself this week because of how hot it was, so getting through six was nice.”

After breezing through the first two innings, Keuchel got himself into a two-out jam in the third. A walk, a single and a wild pitch brought in the Mud Hens’ first run of the game. Another single put runners on the corners, but Keuchel’s third strikeout of the game ended the inning.

He struck out two more in a scoreless fourth. Austin Martin gave Keuchel a lead to work with in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run.

Keuchel retired the first two batters in the fifth before giving up a home run to center field to tie the game, 2-2. His night ended after getting the Mud Hens out in order in the sixth having thrown 89 pitches.

Mark Contreras put Keuchel in position for the win with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth. Infielder Ernie Yake added three more before the inning was over on a three-run home run that gave the Saints a 6-2 lead.

Briefly

Trevor Larnach, back with the Saints after being sent down by the Twins on Thursday, went 0 for 3 with a pair of walks. … Martin, who came into the game batting .175, had three hits. … Yake hit his second homer of the game — and second of the season — in the eighth.

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