AA St. Paul Saints

Matthys Dazzles as Saints Pick up First Win of Season, 2-1 over Milkmen

Published on May 18, 2019 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - Last season Jake Matthys began the year in the bullpen and ended as a starter. In his first two starts in 2018 he dominated two of the top hitting teams in the league. There was no question he would begin 2019 as a starter and he showed why on Saturday night in frigid temperatures tossing 8.0 spectacular innings as the St. Paul Saints claimed their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Milkmen at CHS Field in front of 7,070.

The Saints got Matthys all the runs he would need in the second when they scored two on four straight hits. Burt Reynolds started it with a one out single to center. Blake Schmit and Jeremy Martinez followed with singles of their own to load the bases. Joey Wong then drove home a pair with a single to center making it 2-0 and giving the Saints their first lead of the season.

Matthys retired the first nine men he faced before the Milkmen got the only two hits of the game off him in the third. Nolan Earley led off with a double and moved to third on a one out single by Jose Rosario. Manuel Boscan then hit a fly ball to medium right. Burt Reynolds made the catch, but his throw was up the third base line allowing Earley to score cutting the Saints lead to one.

Matthys wouldn't allow another hit retiring 14 of the final 15 men he faced, issuing just a one out walk in the fifth. Matthys finished the night going a career tying high 8.0 innings allowing one run on two hits while walking one and striking out a career high eight.

In the ninth the Milkmen threatened, but closer Todd Van Steensel got out of the mini jam. He struck out Earley to lead off the inning, but then hit Teodoro Martinez. Rosario singled to put runners at first and second. Earley then stole third putting runners at the corners with one out. Van Steensel would strike out Manuel Boscan and get Adam Brett Walker to fly out to right to end the game.

The same two teams will meet in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Nick Belzer (NR) to the mound against Milkmen RHP Angel Ventura (NR). It's the Year of the Pig as the first 5,000 people in attendance will receive a Saints magnet schedule. The game can be seen on KSTC-TV (45TV) and heard on KFAN Plus 96.7 FM.

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American Association Stories from May 18, 2019


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