Category: Sacramento Rivercats

Giants Fall Short in Sacramento, Drop Exhibition to River Cats 4-3

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Sunset over the Tower Bridge in Sacramento during the late innings of the Giants vs River Cats matchup. (Photo: Jeremiah Salmonson)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The San Francisco Giants visited Sacramento on Sunday evening, playing as the home team at Sutter Health Park. The Giants faced off against the River Cats at 5:05 PM PST in the upgraded venue that will soon host the Sacramento A’s regular-season games beginning March 31st. However, the River Cats came away with a 4-3 victory over the Giants in West Sacramento.

The Giants started scoring early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jung Hoo Lee doubled home Heliot Ramos with a line drive to right-center field, and later Luis Matos reached base on a throwing error, allowing Lee to score.

The Giants’ offense struck again in the second inning, extending their advantage to 3-0 when Christian Koss doubled in Casey Schmitt. Unfortunately, this marked the end of their scoring for the night, as the River Cats took control from that point forward.

In the fourth inning, the River Cats began chipping away at the deficit as Logan Porter doubled home Hunter Bishop, cutting the Giants’ lead to 3-1.

Giants starter Landen Roupp turned in a strong performance, pitching five innings while allowing just one hit, one earned run, and one walk, with eight strikeouts. Roupp remains in contention for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Time will tell if he or Birdsong gets the nod for Manager Bob Melvin. 

In contrast, Hayden Birdsong, competing with Roupp for the rotation spot, struggled significantly. Birdsong entered in the sixth inning but was pulled after recording just one out, allowing three hits, two walks, and three earned runs. The River Cats took advantage, scoring three runs in the inning to pull ahead 4-3.

Kai-Wei Teng and Justin Garza combined to pitch the remaining 3 1/3 innings for the Giants, holding the River Cats scoreless. Despite their efforts in the ninth, the Giants’ offense couldn’t produce additional runs, and the game ended in a 4-3 loss. 

After a strong spring, the Giants are feeling good as they return to San Francisco on Sunday night. They have two official spring training games remaining before Opening Day on March 27th against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Key Performers:
Heliot Ramos had a strong showing, going 2-2 with a double and a walk.
Landen Roupp delivered five innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts.

Up Next: The Giants return to San Francisco for their first game at Oracle Park this season, hosting the Detroit Tigers in Spring Training action at 6:45 PM PST.

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s jump into the frying pan known as Sutter Health Park in Sacramento

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A Brigham Young University survey shows the temperature comparisons on how hot artificial turf gets on hot days the increase is an astounding 40 degrees. The Sacramento A’s will be playing on artificial turf and will sharing be the park with minor league team the Sacramento River Cats for the 2025 season. (image by Brigham Young University)

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel the A’s are just one month away from saying good bye to Oakland for good. They will be playing in Sacramento for the interim for the next three seasons as they’re new ballpark in Las Vegas is scheduled to be ready in 2028.

#2 Lots of talk about how things will be in play for the visiting teams that come to Sacramento, the small clubhouses, going through the outfield fences to get to the clubhouse. Smaller weight rooms and family rooms. Just from a starting point how much of a mistake will this be for MLB who have the A’s play at Sutter Health next season.

#3 It was baking hot this week in Sacramento and it’s like that all summer no relief. How fans can sit in those hot seats all season long and fry at Sutter Health and it’s going to be no different next season with 99 or 100 degree heat. River Cat fans might be used to it but some of the big club visitors will not have cover that their used to.

#4 The first two rows at Sutter Health are going for $61,000 per season for a season ticket holder. How well do you see that going over? Tickets very well could go fast because of the novelty of having a big league club in minor league Sacramento.

#5 The heat for the players could be a disaster. They will be sharing some 160 home games a combination between the Sacramento A’s and Sacramento River Cats. Sutter Health is installing turf because with natural grass with that many games the field will get torn up. A turf surface on the field for a 99 degree day in Sacramento would be 120 to 180 degrees. Players falling or diving in or on the turf could suffer burns. How this is being allowed by MLB and the players union is perplexing?

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants spanked by Triple-A affiliate River Cats 8-1 in Exhibition Game in Sacramento

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval take a few cuts at their game against the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun Mar 24, 2024 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

Sacramento River Cats 8

San Francisco Giants 1

Win: Darren McCaugham (5-4)

Loss: Miguel Yajure (0-2)

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 14,014* (No official attendance was given for tonight’s game, but since the game was sold out, and the seating capacity of Sutter Health Park is 14,014, it can be assumed that it was the attendance tonight.)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Giants came to Sacramento for the third Giants vs. River Cats exhibition game, and were smoked by their Triple-A affiliate, 8-1.

The Giants broke camp on Saturday after an 11-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Scottsdale Stadium, the Giants’ spring training ballpark. They flew home to San Francisco after the game, got some rest and then took the bus to Sacramento, where they would be the home team, to play their Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

This was the third time the two teams matched up for an exhibition game at Sutter Health Park. The first contest came on March 30, 2016, when the Giants as the home team beat the River Cats 8-4. The Giants returned to Sacramento on March 24, 2018, this time as the road team, and lost a tight one by a final of 6-5.

There was a lot of excitement in the air at Sutter Health Park. This stemmed from Giants fans in Sacramento getting to see their team play in their hometown for the first six years, as well as the fact that the team had a strong off-season, and greatly improved the team. Fans in Northern California were also going to get to see Jung-hoo Lee up close and in person for the first time, which generated plenty of excitement.

Dusty Baker, a Sacramento kid, who had retired from managing at the end of the 2023 season, and who has returned to the Giants as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations, was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Baker received a standing ovation from the soldout crowd at Sutter Health Park as he walked out to the mound to throw the pitch.

The teams were interestingly divided, as most of the minor leaguers played for the River Cats, but a few suited up for the Giants. One of the minor leaguers who put on a Giants uniform tonight was Carson Seymour, who was the starting pitcher for San Francisco tonight. On the mound for Sacramento was Mason Black, who is much more likely to see time with the Giants than Seymour.

Wade Meckler led off the game for Sacramento, and lined a double down the right-field line. Heliot Ramos got an infield hit that moved Meckler to third-base, and David Villar singled to right to knock in Meckler. Trenton Brooks walked to load the bases, and that brought up Casey Schmitt, who hit a ground ball to the Giants’ shortstop, Nick Ahmed, who was able to help turn a 6-4-3 double play for the first two outs. That scored Ramos, but since it was a double play, Schmitt did not get an RBI.

Black survived a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning, and Seymour settled down to throw a 1-2-3 innings in top of the second, as well as the top of the third.

The Giants did not get their first hit off Black until Lee legged out an infield single to start the bottom of the third. Lee advanced to second on a wild pitch, and got to third on a ground out by Austin Slater, but was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning on a ground ball off the bat of LaMonte Wade Jr.

For Black, he ended up pitching three and two thirds shutout innings. He gave up two hits, but walked five guys.

Juan Sanchez, who has pitched nicely in camp for the Giants this spring, came in to relieve Seymour in the top of the fourth. Sanchez walked two, but struckout two in a scoreless inning of work.

The 6’8” right-hander Carson Ragsdale came in for the Giants in the top of the fifth, and the River Cats rocked him for three runs to extend their lead to 5-0. Ragsdale went two and two thirds, and Nick Garcia got the final out of the top of the seventh.

Eric Silva pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Giants, and Pablo Sandoval pinch-hit for Austin Slater, and laced a base-hit to right off the left-hander John Bertrand to start the bottom of the eighth. Sandoval would be out at second after Blake Sabol reached on a 4-6 fielder’s choice, but Tyler Fitzgerald singled in Sabol with two outs to finally put the Giants on the board.

The River Cats tacked on three more runs in the top off the ninth off Spencer Bivens to blow it open, and Nick Avila pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for Sacramento to close it out, as the River Cats won it 8-1.

The River Cats now lead the all-time exhibition series two games to one against the Giants, and with the excitement and success of tonight’s game for both organizations and the city of Sacramento, it would be easy to assume that fans will not have to wait too long before the two teams square off at Sutter Health Park again.

Since this game was against a minor league game, it does not count towards the Giants’ overall spring training record. The Giants will close out their spring training schedule with two games against their crossbay rival A’s. The first will be at 6:40 p.m. on Monday at the Oakland Coliseum, followed by the Giants’ spring training finale when they host the A’s Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

Other Notes:

Logan Webb, who was born and raised in the Sacramento suburb of Rocklin was back in town, but with Webb set to make his third-straight opening day start when the Giants open the Regular Season in San Diego on Thursday, he did not pitch tonight.

“[I] came down this morning to see my family, [and] say hi to everybody,” said Webb. “I couldn’t miss out on coming back here…..I know how much pride this area has in their sports teams; the Giants’ ties run deep [here].”

“It’s always special coming here,” Webb continued. “Honestly, I wish there was a [major league] baseball team here…..I think [Sacramento] can have one…..You see how much Kings fans show up, [and] how much River Cats show up. I love it here.”

Webb expressed his excitement for being back in Sacramento, as well as being able to convert two of his teammates into Kings fans.

“Alex Cobb is a Kings fan now,” Webb said. “Ryan Walker, I think, is following [them] a little more. [The Kings have] been fun to watch, and hopefully, they keep going.”

Webb has struggled this spring, but is trying to put it behind him.

“Obviously, as a competitor, you don’t want to go out there and hear all the cliches, ‘it’s just spring training,’” said Webb. “Everything feels good; it’s just [not] the results I’ve been looking for.”

Pablo Sandoval who has been back in camp hoping for a third stint with the Giants has hit .178 this spring, and Tuesday’s spring training finale as the A’s is rumored to be a final farewell for Sandoval, who despite the odds being stacked against him, has been humble, and has made his excitement and gratitude to get one last chance with the Giants clear.

Sandoval has made an impact in camp, as he has been the connection to the Giants’ world championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and he has had an effect on the young players, who are set to be the team’s future.

According to Manager Bob Melvin, Sandoval has gotten the biggest ovations of any player. Melvin also said that he has specifically sent in Sandoval as a pinch-runner in games this spring to get more of the ovations.

Melvin also discussed the final cuts the Giants are set to make as they prepare to set their 26-man roster for Opening Day. Melvin told the team at the start of camp that even the players who were going to get cut were going to be needed at some point during the Regular Season.

“[With] the way our roster’s constructed, it’s gonna take an army to win,” said Melvin.” “These guys have to know that there’s a good chance they’re gonna be part of this.”

John Brebbia escapes trouble in first rehab outing & other minor league notes, as River Cats top Isotopes 6-2

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Sacramento Rivercats were swinging for extra runs and catcher Joey Bart played a big part in the win over the visiting Albuquerque Isotopes at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (@RiverCats photo)

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

Albuquerque Isotopes 2 (29-24 2nd Half), (56-72 Season)

Sacramento River Cats 6 (22-31 2nd Half), (56-71 Season)

Win: John Brebbia (1-0)

Loss: Justin Bruihl (5-3)

Time: 2:44

Attendance: 3,533

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–John Brebbria, Heliot Ramos and Joey Bart all played a part, as the Sacramento River Cats snapped their three-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

Kai-Wei Teng made the start for Sacramento; and despite giving up a run in both the first and second innings, he settled down nicely, and set down 13 of the final 15 men he faced. In total, Teng walked one, and struck out seven over six innings of work.

The play of the night came with one out in the top of the sixth inning, when Isotopes’ shortstop Coco Montes hit a deep fly ball to left-center field that Trenton Brooks and Tyler Fitzgerald converged on, but neither were able to catch. Fitzgerald crashed into the wall, and Brooks threw to the shortstop, Johan Camargo—who accepted an assignment in Sacramento after being designated for assignment by the Giants on Aug. 23—and Camargo fired a strike to the plate to nail Montes.

Heliot Ramos, who was once again sent down to Sacramento on Tuesday, continued to stay hot in Triple-A, as he hit a leadoff home run to right-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the River Cats on the board for not just the game, but for the series. Joey Bart then singled with one out to knock Isotopes’ starter, Tanner Gordon, out of the game. Camargo singled off the left-hander, Justin Bruihl with two outs, but Armando Alvarez flew out to right to end the inning.

John Brebbia, who had last appeared in a game for the Giants on June 16 at Dodger Stadium, was brought in for the top of the seventh inning in his first rehab outing. Brebbia surrendered a leadoff single to Aaron Schunk, and walked Jonathan Morales to get into early trouble.

Brebbia then got Isotopes’ catcher, Willie MacIver, to hit a chopper back to the mound; Brebbia threw to third to get the lead runner, Schunk, but third-baseman, David Villar, threw the ball away trying to turn the 1-5-3 double play. That put runners on the corners with one out, but it was no trouble for Brebbia, who struck out the next two men he faced.

Bruihl came back out for the bottom of the seventh with Albuquerque up 2-1. Donovan Walton hit a soft line drive to the shortstop, Montes, to start the inning. Tyler Fitzgerald reached on an infield single, and then Bruihl walked Brooks and Ramos to load the bases, which spelled the end of the night for Bruihl.

The Isotopes then brought in the right-hander, Chance Adams, who walked David Villar, and that tied the game. That brought up Joey Bart, who last played in a major league game on May 17, and who has struggled in Sacramento. Bart then hit a towering grand slam to the back of the clubhouses beyond the left field fence to give the River Cats their first lead of the night, and cap off a five-run bottom of the seventh for Sacramento.

Erik Miller came in, and he pitched a quick and quiet top of the ninth to close it out.

Keaton Winn, who is 0-6 on the season, will make the start in game 3 of the series tomorrow night.

Tacoma hands River Cats sixth-straight loss 5-2

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Sacramento River Cats fans anticipate the long ball there wasn’t enough of them as Sacramento goes down to defeat to the Tacoma Rainers at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Tue Jul 18, 2023 (@RiverCats photo)

Tacoma hands River Cats sixth-straight loss

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

Tacoma Rainiers 5 (8-8 2nd Half), (45-46 Season)

Sacramento River Cats 2 (6-10 2nd Half), (40-50 Season)

Win: Darren McCaugham (5-4)

Loss: Miguel Yajure (0-2)

Save: Riley O’Brien (6)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 4,127

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Tacoma Rainiers came into Sutter Health Park, and beat the River Cats 5-2 to give Sacramento their sixth-straight loss.

Tacoma struck early off Miguel Yajure, who made the start for the River Cats. Yajure struck out Sam Haggerty on three strikes to start the game, but ran into trouble immediately afterwards. Cade Marlowe walked, and stole second; Didi Gregrorious singled Marlowe to third; and Jake Scheiner cleared the bases with a three-run line drive home run down the left field line.

Darren McCaughan made the start for Tacoma, and despite giving up a leadoff single to Tyler Fitzgerald in the bottom of the first, struck out the side. McCaughan also struck out the side in the bottom of the second, despite a two-out double off the bat of Jakson Reetz.

Yajure settled down after the first, as he ended up setting down 11 of the final 13 men he faced. He also struck out eight over his four innings.

The left-hander, Nick Swiney, then came in for Sacramento in the top of the fifth. Swiney got Haggerty to ground out to Ford Proctor, who took the out unassisted at first, to start the inning. Marlowe then walked, and stole second and third, but he was thrown out at home on a ground ball off the bat of Gregorious for the second out. It was a big out for Swiney, but he then walked Scheiner, which set things up for Taylor Trammell, who singled in Gregorious from second to make the Rainiers’ lead 4-0.

Meanwhile, McCaughan remained on cruise control for Tacoma, as he allowed just two hits and three base-runners over his first five innings. Tyler Fitzgerald put the River Cats on the board with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but McCaughan then sat down the next three guys to end the inning.

Nick Avila struck out the side in a 1-2-3 top of the sixth for Sacramento, and Chris Wright set down the first two Rainiers’ batters in the top of the seventh. Wright and the River Cats then dodged a bullet after centerfielder, Heliot Ramos, lost a Didi Gregorious fly ball in the lights, which led to a triple. Wright walked Scheiner and Trammell, but got Brian O’Keese to fly out to right to end the inning.

McCaughan came back out for Tacoma in the bottom of the seventh, and Joey Bart started things off with a bloop single to right field. For Bart, he remains hot, as he has gotten hits in 12 of his last 13 games. Jack Larsen popped out to short, and Jakson Reets was hit by a pitch, which ended the night for McCaughan. Blake Weiman then came in for Tacoma, and got pinch-hitter, Armando Alvarez to strike out; but Michael Gigliotti singled in Bart to make the score 4-2.

Tanner Andrews pitched a quiet top of the eighth for Sacramento, and Stephen Kolek threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for Tacoma.

The River Cats then brought in the lefty, Erik Miller, for the top of the ninth. Cade Marlowe singled to left to start the inning, and then he alertly took second, on a fly out by Gregorious. Marlowe stole third for his fourth stolen bag of the night, and he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jake Scheiner, who knocked in four of the Rainiers’ five runs.

Riley O’Brien came in for the bottom of the ninth, and gave up a leadoff single to Joey Bart, but struck out Larsen, and got Reetz to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end it.

The River Cats fall to 6-10, and fall to six games back of the Albuquerque Isotopes, just 16 games into the second half.

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow for game 2 of this six-game series with an early 12:05 start. Mason Black will make the start for the River Cats, and he will be opposed by the Rainiers’ left-hander, Tommy Milone. Tomorrow could also be the River Cats debut of the Giants’ second-highest-ranking prospect, Marco Luciano.

River Cats ride the long ball to second-straight win over Aces; Cats come up Aces 8-5 at Sutter Health

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The Sacramento River Cats get a three run 8-5 win over the Reno Aces at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Thu Jun 29, 2023 (@RiverCats photo)

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

Reno Aces 4 (45-32)

Sacramento River Cats 8 (35-41)

Win: Nick Avila (9-0)

Loss: Bryce Jarvis (3-5)

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 4,832

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats rode three home runs to an 8-4 win over the Reno Aces in Game 2 of this six-game series.

The Giants’ top prospect, Kyle Harrison, who was coming off a rough outing on June 22 in Round Rock in which he gave up seven runs, made the start for the River Cats tonight. Harrison survived a leadoff walk in the top of the first inning and a pair of hits in the second unscathed, as he struck out the side in the second.

Bryce Jarvis made the start for Reno, and he pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first, but Ivan Diaz led off the bottom of the second with a home run to right-center field to put the River Cats on the board.

Harrison then ran into trouble in the top of the third. Jorge Barrosa started the inning with a walk, and then Reno tied the game on a double off the bat of Diego Castillo that was then kicked by River Cats’ right-fielder, Dalton Guthrie, which allowed Barrosa to score and Castillo to third base.

The play was originally ruled a triple, and then a single and a two-base error before it was correctly ruled a double. Phillip Evans then followed with a two-run line-drive home run just inside the line to left.

The River Cats then responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Ford Proctor walked to start the inning; Will Wilson flew out to center; Guthrie reached on an infield hit; and Bretty Wisely hit a three-run home run to put Sacramento back ahead.

Harrison gave up a leadoff single to Dominic Canzone to start the fourth. Canzone was thrown out trying to steal second, and P.J. Higgins struck out looking. Harrison then walked Blaze Alexander, and gave up an infield hit to Barrosa, which forced Harrison out of the game. Nick Avila came in, and got Castillo to ground out to third to end the inning.

While Harrison fared better tonight, he was still shaky, as he ended up going three and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs and six hits, while walking four and striking out seven.

The River Cats kept their 4-3 into the bottom of the fifth inning. Will Wilson walked to start the inning, and then Guthrie reached on a throwing error by Aces’ third-baseman, Josh Rojas. Brett Wisely hit a ground rule double to right, and Tyler Fitzgerald struck out swinging for the second out.

The Aces then elected to walk Isan Diaz intentionally to load the bases with two outs for the struggling Joey Bart, but perhaps that was the spark Bart needed, as he made the Aces pay with a grand slam to right-center to open up the River Cats’ lead to 8-3.

The Aces scored a run in the second, as Tristin English led off the inning on a double, and he scored on a base-hit to left by Higgins.

The rest of the game was smooth sailing, and the River Cats won, 8-4.

Game 3 of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45, as Miguel Yajure will take the ball for Sacramento, and he will be opposed by the Aces’ left-hander, Konnor Pilkington.

River Cats survive late error, walk off Aviators 4-3 to snap four-game slide

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The Sacramento Rivercats celebrate the winning walk off run on a Las Vegas Aviators error at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Thu Jun 8, 2023 (@RiverCats photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats walked off the Las Vegas Aviators on a bizarre play to cap off a thriller, and to snap their four-game losing streak 4-3.

Patrick Sanders took the ball for Sacramento, and he was rudely welcomed, as the second batter of the game, Trenton Brooks, hit a home run to right to put the Aviators on the board early. Sanders then gave up a base-hit to Jordan Diaz, and got Cody Thomas to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Sanders walked Tyler Soderstrom to start the second, and escaped the inning thanks to a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Conner Capel, which would do it for his night.

Kyle Muller made the start for Las Vegas, as he pitched through a jam in the bottom of the first, and he pitched through a two-out single in the second. Muller got Bryce Johnson to ground out to third to start the bottom of the third, but Luis Matos then hit a towering home run to left-center to tie the game.

Chris Wright followed Sanders for the River Cats, and pitched through a one-out single in the top of the third, but ran into trouble in the fourth. Cody Thomas singled with one out, stole second and scored on a double off the bat of Soderstrom to put the Aviators right back ahead. Wright struck out Garcia, and walked Capel, which led Wright to be pulled for Tanner Andrews, who struck out Zack Gelof to end the inning.

Muller set down the River Cats 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth, and got Bryce Johnson to fly out to right to start the bottom of the fifth. Luis Matos then hit a towering double off the wall in left-center; advanced to third on an infield hit off the bat of Tyler Fitzgerald; and scored on a base-hit by David Villar.

Andrews pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, and got Capel to pop out to third to start the seventh, but he was pulled after giving up singles to Gelof and Yohel Pozo. The left-hander, Joey Marciano, then came in, and he hit Tyler Wade to load the bases with one out. Marciano was on the ropes, but he then struck out Brooks and Diaz to get out of the inning with the game still tied.

Chad Smith, who followed Muller with a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, gave up a home run to Will Wilson that just got out just to the left of straightaway center on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh, which gave the River Cats their first lead of the night. Marciano and Erik Miller then combined to strike out the side in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth.

The River Cats threatened to break the game open against Aviators’ right-hander, Norge Ruiz, in the bottom of the eighth, but were unable to extend their lead, which sent the game to the ninth with the River Cats up 3-2.

Miller came back out for the ninth, and on a 2-2 count, got Capel to hit a routine fly ball to left, which was dropped by Shane Matheny, who had come in for Will Wilson for defense. Miller was then clearly rattled, as he walked Gelof on four pitches. Miller got Pozo to hit a chopper back to the mound for the first out, but that also advanced the runners to second and third.

That brought up the top of the order in Tyler Wade, who hit a ground ball to River Cats’ second-baseman, Brett Wisely, who was playing in; Wisely then threw home, but Joey Bart was unable to come up with the ball, and Capel scored the tying run. Miller then got out of the inning without further trouble, and the game was tied going to the bottom of the ninth.

Garrett Acton then came in for the Aviators, and walked Bryce Johnson on four pitches to start the bottom of the ninth. Luis Matos then played some old-school baseball, and laid down a sacrifice bunt to get Johnson to second. It was then up to Tyler Fitzgerald, who hit a high fly ball to left-center; Aviators’ center-fielder, Conner Capel, had the ball in his glove, but left-fielder, Cody Thomas, ran into Capel and knocked it out of his hand; Johnson had gone towards third, turned around and headed back towards second, but came in to score once the ball was dropped to win it for the River Cats. The play was ruled an error on Thomas—E7—due to an official scoring rule, which gives an error to a fielder, who in the act of colliding with another fielder, knocks the ball out of the other fielder’s hand.

Erik Miller ended up with the win to improve to 1-0, and Acton got the loss to fall to 5-2. This win snapped a four-game losing streak for the River Cats, who improve to 27-33, but remain in last place and seven games behind the first-place Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League West.

As for Joey Bart, who is still on his rehab assignment, he went 0-for-4 with a hat trick. His third strikeout marked his eighth in 11 plate appearances.

Game 4 of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45, as Kyle Harrison will take the mound for the River Cats.

Matos goes 0-for-5, as Aviators edge River Cats 2-1 in series opener

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Final score says it all from Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the Las Vegas Aviators defeat the Sacramento RiverCats by a run 2-1 in triple A action (@RiverCats photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–Luis Matos’ eight-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-5 night, as the Las Vegas Aviators beat the River Cats 2-1 in the opener of a six-game series in Sacramento.

It was a mild and overcast day in Sacramento, as the tarp covered the field at Sutter Health Park following a late-afternoon thunderstorm. The rain cleared out, and the game started without delay.

Sean Hjelle took the mound for the River Cats, and he was opposed by the Aviators’ right-hander, Adam Oller. Both pitchers pitched well early on, and neither one of them gave up a hit until the third inning. The Aviators broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, when center-fielder, Max Schuemann, knocked in a pair with a single down the right-field line.

Hjelle got out of the fifth without further damage, but he was pulled after five innings, as he gave up four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Oller, meanwhile, pitched six shutout innings, walking three and striking out six, giving up just three hits.

Nick Swinney pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning for the River Cats, and he retired the first two men he faced in the seventh, but was pulled following a two-out walk. Spencer Patton pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for Las Vegas, and Nick Avila pitched through a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth for Sacramento.

The Aviators brought in the right-hander, Chad Smith, for the bottom of the eighth. Luis Matos flied out to center to start the inning, but Bryce Johnson reached on an infield hit up the third-base line, and Tyler Fitzgerald singled Johnson over to third on a perfectly-executed hit and run.

David Villar knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to center to put the River Cats on the board, but Joey Bart swung out swinging on a slider off the outside to end the inning.

Cole Waites pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Sacramento, and Las Vegas brought in Garrett Acton for the bottom of the ninth. Ford Proctor singled to right to start the inning, and then Colton Welker, who had already been hit by two pitches tonight, struck out, as he ended up going around on a pitch that got his wrist for a painful first out.

Will Wilson flew out to center, and Michael Gigliotti walked, which set things up for the red-hot Luis Matos, whose eight-game hitting streak was on the line along with the game. Matos fouled off three two-strike pitches, but on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, he popped up to the Aviators’ second-baseman, Zack Gelof, out in shallow center to end it.

Adam Oller got the win to improve to 2-2; Sean Hjelle got the loss to fall to 1-1; and Garrett Acton got his third save of the season. The River Cats fall to 26-32, and into last place in the Pacific Coast League West, as they are seven games back of the first-place Reno Aces.

On a side note, Joey Bart went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, as he continues his rehab.

Game 2 of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45.

Slump continues for River Cats, as they drop Game 3 to OKC Dodgers 11-4

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Skyline shot of downtown Sacramento from Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. The Oklahoma City Dodgers and the Sacramento Riverscats dueled in game 3 of the six game series on Thu May 25, 2023 (photo from mlb.com file)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Oklahoma City Dodgers trounced the River Cats by a final of 11-4 in Game 3 of this six-game series to hand Sacramento their seventh loss in their last nine games.

The River Cats had Dodgers’ starting pitcher, Robbie Erlin, on the ropes in the bottom of the first. Luis Matos singled to lead off the inning; Tyler Fitzgerald walked; and they advanced to second and third on a double steal. David Villar struck out swinging, and Colton Welker grounded out to third to knock in Matos, but after Matt Beaty walked, Clint Coulter flied out to left to end the inning.

Tanner Andrews took the ball for Sacramento instead of Sean Hjelle, who was originally supposed to start, and after an uneventful first, Andrews struggled in the second, as the Dodgers tagged him for four runs. The inning was capped off by a three-run home run off the bat of Dodgers’ first-baseman, Justin Yurchak.

Andrews pitched a 1-2-3 third, and then was replaced in the top of the fourth by Phoenix Sanders, who the Giants had signed to a minor league contract on Wednesday, and was making his organizational debut. Sanders was greeted by a rude welcome, as the first man he faced, Jonny DeLuca homered to start the inning.

That would not be it for the Dodgers in the fourth, as Devin Mann hit a two-run home run with one out to open up Oklahoma City’s lead to 7-1. Sanders gave up an infield hit to Yurchak; walked Drew Avans; and struck out Michael Busch, but he was then removed after just two-thirds of an inning.

Meanwhile, Robbie Erlin settled in nicely, as he set down 13-straight batters after he walked Matt Beaty in the first. Luis Matos then got his and the River Cats’ second hit of the night with a single to start off the bottom of the sixth, and that was followed with a bunt single by Tyler Fitzgerald.

David Villar flew out to center, which advanced Matos to third, and then Colton Welker singled in Matos to make the score 7-2. Matt Beaty walked to load the bases, and the River Cats had Erlin on the ropes again, but Clint Coulter and Ricardo Genoves both struck out swinging to end the inning.

Cole Waits pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for the River Cats, but he was replaced by Clay Helvey in the eighth, and Helvey melted down. Devin Mann and Justin Yurchak walked to start the inning; Drew Avans singled to load the bases; and Michael Busch drew a walk to extend Oklahoma City’s lead to 8-2.

Luke Williams and Ryan both flied out, as neither were able to get the run in from third, but Jonny De Luca cleared the bases with a triple—his third leg of the cycle minus the double—to open up the lead to 11-2 and essentially put the game away.

The River Cats had some fight in them in the bottom of the ninth against Dodgers’ reliever, Wander Suero, as Ricardo Genoves singled, and Will Wilson hit a two-run towering home run to left to make it 11-4. Michael Gigliotti then hit an infield single over the mound, and Luis Matos singled to set things up for Tyler Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald had a 3-1 count, and was a ball away from loading the bases with still nobody out, but he struck out. David Villar walked to load the bases, but Colton Welker and Matt Beaty both struck out, and that would be it.

Robbie Erlin got the win to improve to 4-1, and Tanner Andrews took the loss to fall to 1-2. The River Cats have now lost seven of their last nine games, as they fall to 22-26, and remain seven games back of the first-place Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League West.

Game 4 of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45, with Drew Strotman slated to take the mound for Sacramento.

River Cats win Mother’s Day thriller over Salt Lake 4-3 to get back over .500

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Sacramento River Cats celebrate a win and Mother’s Day at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun May 14, 2023 (Photo Credit to Ralph Thompson/River Cats)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats, twice down to their last strike, beat the Salt Lake Bees 4-3 on a walk-off nubber to take five of six in the series, as they have now won nine of their last 11 games.

Sean Hjelle took the mound for the River Cats, and pitched through jams in the first, third and fourth innings, as he pitched four shutout innings in total. Jake Lee started for Salt Lake, and his outing was more smooth sailing, as he pitched five shutout innings, giving up just a pair of hits, a triple and a double to Tyler Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s pursuit of the cycle was the lone drama early in the game, but it was ended by a pair of walks.

Cam Vieaux came in for the Bees in the bottom of the sixth, and pitched his way through a one-out walk, as he got Matt Beaty and Patrick Bailey on back to back strikeouts to end the inning. Vieaux struck out Shane Matheney to start the bottom of the seventh; gave up a single to Clint Coulter; and got Ford Proctor to fly out to center. Bees’ manager, Keith Johnson, then brought in the left hander, Gerardo Reyes, to face Will Wilson. Coulter stole second, and then Wilson hit a two-run home run to left to put the River Cats on the board.

Drew Strotman pitched three shutout innings, following Hjelle, and then the lefty, Chris Wright, came in for Sacramento in the top of the eighth. Wright got Michael Stefanic to pop out to start the inning; walked Jared Walsh; and then struck out Jo Adell for the second out. Trey Cabbage then came up, and hit a towering drive to right for his 10th home run of the year to tie it up. 

The River Cats loaded the bases off Reyes with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth, but Reyes struck out the side to get out of it unscathed.

The game remained tied at 2-2 going to the ninth, as Melvin Adon came in for the River Cats. Jared Oliva beat out a ground ball to short for an infield hit to lead off the inning, and then stole second on a botched hit and run. Zach Humphreys struck out swinging, and then pinch-hitter David Fletcher grounded out to third, which allowed Oliva to advance to third. Michael Stefanic then beat out a roller up the third base line, which knocked in Oliva to give the Bees the lead.

The bees brought in the major league veteran Jonathan Holder in the bottom of the ninth, who gave up a single to Will Wilson on the first pitch of the inning. Michael Gigliotti struck out swinging, and Cal Stevenson flew out to left-center, which left the River Cats down to their last out. Up came Tyler Fitzgerald, who down to his last strike, lined his second double of the game down the left field line, which got Wilson to third. 

The bees elected to intentionally walk Matt Beaty to load the bases, which left it up to Patrick Bailey. Bailey, also down to his last strike, hit a nubber off the end of the bat along the third base line that Bees’ third-baseman, Taylor Jones, booted, and Wilson and Fitzgerald both scored, sending the 6,044 fans at Sutter Health Park home happy.

Through it all, Melvin Adon got the win to improve to 1-1, and Jonathan Holder took the loss to fall to 0-4. The River Cats are now back over .500 at 20-19, as they will head to Reno to face the first-place Aces for a six-game series starting Tuesday.

Today’s game also featured the challenge version of the Automated Balls and Strikes System that Major League Baseball plans to implement next season. Jared Walsh of the Angels, who was here for a rehab assignment, was called out on strikes by home plate umpire, Tanner Moore, and spent close to 10 seconds arguing with Moore instead of requesting a challenge.

Today’s game was also the final one in Sacramento for the 29-year voice of the Bees, Steve Klauke, who is retiring at the end of the season.