Kieran Mattison was magnificent in his Pelicans debut on Tuesday night, helping the Pelicans to a 3-1 win over the Fort Worth Cats. Mattison allowed just one run on three hits over his six innings of work, yielding but one walk, and striking out three. With the win, the Pelicans need to capture just two more games to clinch a playoff spot.
The Pelicans scratched the board first in the incipient inning. Kevin Reynolds singled with one out, and proceeded to steal second and third. Antoin Gray grounded out to third base, but Reynolds scored on the play to give the Pelicans an early lead.
The Cats would come back to tie the game in the second inning on the first of their three hits of the night. With two out, Ryan Patterson went deep over the left field fence to drive himself in and tie the game at one apiece.
The run would be the Cats’ first and only. Pensacola took the lead in the top of the sixth when Dallas Christison reached on an error by the shortstop, and scored when the next batter, Lou Palmisano, reached on an error by the third baseman. The fielder tossed the ball over the first baseman’s head, allowing Christison to score from first.
The Pelicans would add another run in the top of the eighth inning. With two out Jason Diaz hit a double, and Francisco Leandro drove him in with a base hit. In the meantime, the Pelicans’ pitching staff was outstanding.
Kieran Mattison earned the win in his first appearance for the Pelicans. After Ron Hill retired all six batters in innings seven and eight (while striking out half of them), Hunter Davis knocked down the Cats one-two-three in the ninth to pick up save 22 on the year.
With the Pelicans’ 3-1 victory, Pensacola needs to win two more games to clinch a playoff spot. If the Pelicans were to clinch, they would do so at home in Pensacola. Tickets for the Thursday through Sunday games are available now at Pensacola-area Circle K locations, or online at www.pensacolapelicans.com.
The Pelicans look for one of the necessary wins on Wednesday, as they close a three-game series in Fort Worth. The Pelicans are scheduled to throw Kevin Cooper against the Cats’ Joel Kirsten. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with all the action available on NewsRadio 1620 or online via SportsJuice.com.
