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St. Paul Saints

Saints Strike out 16 Times, Lose 9-6 to Pheasants

August 2, 2011 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD (August 2, 2011) - The St. Paul Saints got to one of the best pitchers in the league, scoring five runs against the American Association's ERA leader Ben Moore, but he struck out a career and franchise high 14 and the Saints lost 9-6 on Tuesday night to the Sioux Falls Pheasants at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Every Saint struck out at least once, but the Saints were able to get on the board first courtesy of a Ronnie Bourquin solo homer in the second, his eighth of the season, to make it 1-0.

The Pheasants answered back against Saints starter Matt Long, who was throwing on three days rest for the first time in his career, in the bottom of the inning. The Pheasants loaded the bases on a Brandon Sing walk, Gus Milner reached on a fielding error by Justin Snyder and Francisco Leandro walked. Hunter Jobes' RBI fielder's choice tied the game up. With two outs Joe Anthonsen gave the Pheasants a 2-1 lead with an RBI single. After the conclusion of the inning Saints manager George Tsamis was thrown out for arguing with home plate umpire Tim McCaffery.

The Saints used that spark to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth when Jason Cooper and Argelis Nunez started the inning with back-to-back singles. With one out Jonathan Van Every walked to load the bases. With two outs Snyder walked to force in a run and tie the game at two. Adam Frost added a two-run single.

In the top of the fifth Saints outfielder Nunez was thrown out for arguing a strike three call and in the bottom of the inning the Pheasants took a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Trevor Lawhorn and Reggie Abercrombie led off with back-to-back singles. With one out Sing doubled them both home to tie the game at four and with two outs Leandro doubled home Sing to give the Pheasants a 5-4 lead.

The Pheasants put the game out of reach in the sixth when Anthonsen walked with one out and scored on Lawhorn's RBI double to make it 6-4. Walks to Abercrombie and Sing loaded the bases and Milner cleared the bases with a double to right-center, making it 9-4.

The Saints would tack on two more when Ole Sheldon added an RBI single in the seventh and Cooper hit a solo homer to right in the eighth, his ninth of the season. Cooper finished the night 3-4 with a homer, RBI and two runs scored.

Pheasants starter Moore went 7.0 innings allowing five runs (four earned), the second most runs he's allowed this season, on seven hits while walking two and striking out 14. Reliever Ryan Grant added two strikeouts in the eighth. The last time the Saints struck out 16 times in a game was June 24, 2010 at Sioux City.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Saints send RHP Alberto Rolon (7-3, 3.92) to the mound against Pheasants RHP Kyle Ruwe (4-3, 4.73). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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