Category: Sacramento Rivercats

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment


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.

Kyle Harrison unable to get first Triple-A win, as River Cats lose tight one 5-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from @RiverCats

Kyle Harrison unable to get first Triple-A win, as River Cats lose tight one

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats let one get away from them late, as the Salt Lake Bees beat them by a final of 5-2 in game three of their six-game series.

Kyle Harrison, the Giants’ top prospect, made the start for the River Cats, and struck out the side through a one-out walk in an 18-pitch top of the first inning. The River Cats got runners to first and second off Bees’ starter, Luis Ledo, in the bottom of the first, but were unable to come through.

Harrison pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second, but was shaky again in the third, as he pitched through a pair of walks. Sacramento got on the board in the bottom of the second, when Bees’ second-baseman, Michael Stefanic, kicked a ground ball off the bat of Ford Proctor, and then threw to third to check on the lead runner, Shane Matheny, only for the ball to sail into the River Cats’ dugout, allowing Matheny to score. Tyler Fitzgerald led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left to make it 2-0 River Cats.

Harrison started off the top of the fourth by striking out Kevin Padlo for his seventh strikeout of the night, but he then ran into more trouble. Harrison hit Stefanic with a pitch, and then gave up a double to Jordyn Adams, which put runners at second and third with one out for Salt Lake.

Bees’ catcher, Zach Humphreys, then came to the plate, and had an automatic pitch clock violation strike called on him, which caused Bees’ manager, Keith Johnson, to come in from his spot in the third base coach’s box and get ejected by home plate umpire, Tanner Moore.

Johnson had a few words for the first-base umpire and crew chief, Jacob Metz, as well, and then proceeded to slowly walk off the field. Humphreys then hit a triple to right-center field to tie the game and knock Harrison out of the game.

Melvin Adon escaped further damage in the fourth, and pitched through a one-out walk in the fifth. Drew Strotman then came in for the River Cats in the top of the sixth, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, but he crumbled in the seventh, as the Bees exploded on him for three runs.

Tyler Cabbage knocked in David Fletcher with a one-out triple; Stefanic knocked in Cabbage with a base-hit; Adams singled Stefanic to third and then Adams stole second, which allowed Stefanic to steal home on the throw.

The eighth and ninth innings went by with little drama, as Jonathan Holder struck out Patrick Bailey swinging to end it.

Luis Ledo got his first win of the year, and improves to 1-0; Drew Strotman takes the loss, and falls to 1-4; and Jonathan Holder picked up his first save of the year. The River Cats fall to 17-19; remain tied for second place; and fall three games back of the Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League West.

Game four of the series will be tomorrow night at 6:45, as the left-hander, Kenny Rosenberg will take the mound for the River Cats, up against the right-hander, Keaton Winn, for the Bees.