AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Go Wild in 3-2 11 Inning Victory

Published on July 18, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD (July 18, 2011) - The St. Paul Saints made sure not to waste a superb starting performance by Matt Long and used three wild pitches to defeat the Sioux Falls Pheasants 3-2 in 11 innings on Monday night at Sioux Falls Pheasants.

The game was a pitchers duel for most of the game and the Saints entered the ninth inning down 2-1. With Pheasants closer Aaron Cotter on the mound, he had not allowed a run in his last 10 appearances, the Saints managed to find a way to tie the game. After the first two hitters were retired Ronnie Bourquin kept the Saints hopes alive with a single. He moved to third on a single from Richard Mercado. After Jonathan Van Every walked to load the bases Alex Garabedian pinch hit for Donald Blunt. Cotter, however, delivered a wild pitch that scored Bourquin to tie the game.

Both teams left runners in scoring position in the 10th, but in the 11th the Saints capitalized on another wild pitch. Mercado led off with a single to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Van Every followed with a single to right scoring Mercado for the winning run.

Saints starter Matt Long was impressive and matched Pheasants starter Kyle Ruwe most of the game. Long made one mistake in the fourth giving up a solo shot to Mark Shorey, his eighth of the season, to give the Pheasants a 1-0 lead.

The Saints tied the game in the seventh when Ole Sheldon tripled off the glove of center fielder Reggie Abercrombie. It was only the fourth triple of Sheldon's seven year career. A wild pitch from Ruwe score Sheldon to tie the game at one.

In the bottom of the inning the Pheasants answered back when Hunter Jobes walked with one out and moved to third on a single from Kevin Carby. Will Richards' sacrifice fly gave the Pheasants a 2-1 lead.

Long went 8.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out a season high eight while Ruwe went 7.0 innings allowing one run on two hits while walking one and striking out two. Saints reliever Kyle Foster pitched the final 3.0 innings of shutout ball allowing two hits while striking out two to earn his third victory of the season and lowering his ERA to 1.91.

The same two teams meet in game two of the three game series at 7:05 p.m. at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Saints send LHP Donald Brandt (5-2, 4.06) to the mound against Pheasants RHP Barry Fowler (4-2, 5.26). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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