Kenta Maeda sharp in four innings but Saints lose to Omaha

Twins righthander Kenta Maeda, on a rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints, looked sharp Wednesday night at CHS Field in pitching the first four innings against Omaha.

He got no decision but the Saints eventually lost 5-2 when the Storm Chasers scored three runs in the ninth.

After about a 70-minute rain delay before the game began, Maeda retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, walking the other one.

BOXSCORE: Omaha 5, Saints 2

Then Ryan O'Hearn hit the first of his two home runs for Omaha in the fourth. Maeda's response? He struck out the next two batters to finish with five strikeouts, four swinging

The other outs he got came on three groundouts, three flyouts and a pop-up. Maeda got the first out of the game by hustling to first base to take a throw from Sherman Johnson on a grounder to the right side.

Maeda, last year's runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award, went on the 10-day injury list May 23 with a right adductor strain.

Byron Buxton, also rehabbing (hip) with the Saints this week, was supposed to start in center field for the Saints after going 2-for-3 as their DH on Tuesday, but he didn't play because of the wet field conditions.

Jhoan Duran, the losing pitcher, relieved Maeda and went 4⅓ innings, giving up three runs and six hits, including a homer. He struck out six and walked one.