AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Lead Wild Card by One After Dramatic Eight Run Comeback

Published on August 23, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (August 23, 2011) - Being down eight runs against the Sioux City Explorers this season means the St. Paul Saints have them right where they want them, as the Saints pulled off a 10-9 comeback victory in 11 innings on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 5,027 fans. With the win, the St. Paul Saints now lead the Wild Card chase by a game, after Gary Southshore fell to Lincoln, with seven games remaining.

It was a tough beginning for the Saints, trailing 6-0 after a half inning of play and 9-1 after an inning and a half of play, but starting pitcher Todd Mathison kept them in the ballgame, throwing five shutout innings after a rocky first two frames. His efforts made it possible for the Saints offense to make a dramatic comeback.

The Saints, who trailed 10-2 to the Sioux City Explorers on July 14 in Sioux City only to come back and win 13-11, didn't hang their heads as they trailed 9-1 in the fourth On Tuesday as five straight baserunners reached for the Saints, allowing them to put up a trio of runs to cut the lead to 9-4. In the seventh, Richard Mercado and Ronnie Bourquin hit back-to-back doubles to close the deficit to 9-5.

The Saints tied it up in the eighth. Ryan Patterson knocked home a run with a double and Ole Sheldon followed him up with a two run single to make it 9-8. Then with two outs, Wally Backman Jr. made a crucial error on a ball hit by Mercado. That set the stage for Bourquin to single home Sheldon, who made a great slide around the tag, to tie the ball game at nine apiece.

The game moved to the eleventh, when the Saints would pick up their 51st victory of the season. Jake Krause led off the inning with a single and after a bunt by Adam Frost moved him to second, Shane Costa drove him home with a floating single to center to win the ballgame.

The two men that followed Mathison were terrific. Bret Severtson, who made his Saints debut, pitched a scoreless eighth and Julio DePaula recorded three scoreless innings, picking up his first win of the season in relief.

The Saints offense pounded out 20 hits, one shy of their season high, and Ole Sheldon led the way going 3-6 with four RBI. Costa also went 3-6 and Frost, who led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer, went 3-6 with three runs scored. Ronnie Bourquin was 3-6 with two doubles and two RBI.

These same two teams meet up again on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two of a four game series. The Explorers will throw RHP Ty Marotz (6-4, 4.92) while the Saints have not yet decided on a starting pitcher. It is "iLove Apple.Apple Products Giveaway Night". The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from August 23, 2011


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