Toby Gardenhire grew up in a Twins-focused environment, what with his father, Ron, being the third base coach and later longtime manager for the Minneapolis-based major league team.
Still, the younger Gardenhire had some East-of-the-Mississippi influences, too. His family lived in Little Canada, and he graduated from Roseville High School in 2001.
Twenty years later, Gardenhire was back in St. Paul on Tuesday night, managing the St. Paul Saints as they made their home debut as the Twins' Class AAA team at CHS Field. The Saints are transitioning from the quirky, fun-focused team that played 28 seasons of independent ball to serving as the top farm club for the Twins.
"You know there's going to be big energy in the stadium, and it's going to be a lot of fun," Gardenhire said Tuesday afternoon before the evening's game against the Iowa Cubs. "We want to go out there and win a baseball game for the fans."
Turns out, Gardenhire would have to settle for some energy but little fun, no victory and only two hits from his team. Behind six innings of no-hit pitching from righthander Joe Biagini, the Cubs routed the Saints 11-1 in front of 3,592.
Tomas Tellis' two-out home run in the seventh off reliever Dakota Mekkes broke up Iowa's bid for a second consecutive combined no-hitter.
"It was exciting. The fans were pumped up," Gardenhire said. "Everything was good — except for the baseball."
Gardenhire, 38, had no idea his baseball career would come full circle in managing the Saints, though he did envision suiting up for the independent squad at one time.