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AA St. Paul Saints

Unlucky 13 as Saints Lose 4-3 to Pheasants in Extras

June 22, 2012 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - There was a fairytale wedding following the game between the Saints two four-legged mascots Kim Lardashian and Kris Hamphries. Unfortunately, the fairytale ending for Todd Mathison and the St. Paul Saints was not to be on Friday night at Midway Stadium as the Saints lost 4-3 to the Sioux Falls Pheasants at Midway Stadium in front of 6,258.

The 25-year-old Mathison was signed just before the ballgame making an emergency start for the Saints something he did last year in the final couple of weeks of the season. He helped get the Saints into the playoffs and, not only pitched well in the playoffs, but won Game 1 of the American Association Championship Series. On Friday night he pitched longer than any Saints pitcher this season going 8.0 innings allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out two. He left the game, however, trailing 3-2. Ronnie Bourquin would get him off the hook for the loss. In the bottom of the ninth with the Saints trailing by a run Bourquin crushed a lead-off homer off of Pheasants closer Cody Evans, his fourth of the season, to tie the game at three.

Neither team threatened much in extra innings, but the Pheasants came up with the big blow in the 13th. Cory Morales led off the inning with a solo homer to left, his fourth of the season, off of Chris Odegaard for the deciding run.

The Saints jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second when Ole Sheldon reached on Morales' error. Bourquin doubled him to third and a sacrifice line out by Tanner Townsend gave the Saints a 1-0 lead. Jose Hernandez followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

In the fourth the Pheasants finally got to Mathison when Morales, Jared Bolden and Cristian Guerrero all singled with the latter driving in a run. Guerrero, however, would be thrown out at second after he overslid the bag. With Bolden at third and one out the infield played in and Mathison got Trevor Lawhorn to ground out, holding Bolden at third and Mark Shorey flew out to end the inning.

In the fifth the Pheasants took a 3-2 lead when Jake Taylor singled and Al Quintana doubled him to third. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Joe Anthonsen and Jonny Kaplan gave the Pheasants the lead.

The best chance for the Saints to tie the game came in the bottom of the fifth when the Saints loaded the bases with one out, but Willie Cabrera grounded into an inning ending double play.

The same two teams meet Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. in game two of the three game series. The Saints send RHP Alberto Rolon (2-2, 8.20) to the mound against Pheasants LHP Peter Gehle (2-2, 6.96). It is Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame Night as the 2012 class in revealed prior to the game. The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB or in the stadium on 87.9 FM.

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