Payton's Historic Day

Minnesota Antichrist LF Matthew Payton's major league career is only 19 games old, but already he has earned a distinction that few hitters achieve. In a 4-0 win over the Jackson Magnolias, Payton came to the plate 4 times: triple, double, single, home run. The cycle.

The game itself didn't have the feel of one in which a cycle was in the making. Minnesota SP Damaso Carrasco and Jackson SP Storm McCallum were dueling to a scoreless tie through the 5th inning. Each had given up just 5 hits. But already, Payton was on pace.

Batting 3rd, he ripped an opposite field triple deep into the right field corner in the 1st inning. But with 2 outs already, 1B Rob Springer couldn't get him home. Payton did not get a chance to hit again until the 4th, when he recorded another extra base hit. This time it was a 1-out double, and despite RF Alex Gonzalez' single later in the inning, McCallum still preserved the shutout.

When the 6th inning rolled around, Payton had to lead off. His approach at the plate was selfless, as he inside-outted a ball through the hole for a single instead of swining for the fences. His hitting would finally be rewarded, as the Antichrists loaded the bases 2 batters later. After McCallum struck out the next two batters and looked like he might get out of it, C Kevin Nichols got Minnesota on the board with a 2 RBI single.

His teammates were buzzing between innings about what he was on the verge of accomplishing, but he still had to hit one out of the park--something he had not done all season. RP Jody Allen was on the mound for the Magnolias when Payton got ready to take his 7th inning cuts. Allen knew what Payton needed to complete the cycle, and was determined not to give him anything on the inner half, where he likes it. But on a 1-1 count, Allen tried to bury a curveball, only to have it hang up on him. Payton's eyes lit up as he turned the pitch around in a hurry. As he finished his follow through, he put both hands in the air, pumped them a couple of times, and started his jog to first base with a huge smile on his face.

Payton has a long, bright career ahead of him. But he may be hard-pressed to generate a baseball memory he'll be more fond of than the night he hit for the cycle in front of the Minnesota crowd.