Tag: Sacramento Rivercats

Sacramento A’s podcast Shooty Babitt Tue May 27, 2025: The talk is getting louder that MLB playing minor league parks isn’t working

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Los Angeles Angels pitcher Hunter Strickland throws a pitch to the Sacramento A’s hitter Miguel Andujar in the bottom of the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on Tue May 20, 2025. There have been a number of publications questioning the quality of the Major League Baseball being payed in minor league parks. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Shooty Babitt:

#1 Shooty, there have been a number of publications discussing the Sacramento A’s playing in a minor league park isn’t the best idea after all. The A’s have the worst home record in baseball at 9-19. The A’s have have been involved in lopsided games and at just recently completed an 11 game losing streak.

#2 The A’s completed a seven game homestand running from May 19-25 and lost six of those seven games all at home before winning Sun May 25 which turned out to be the game that ended their 11 game losing streak.

#3 The ballplayers have been restrained about criticizing playing at Sutter Health Park the minor league home of the Sacramento River Cats a San Francisco Giants triple A affiliate. Just small hints of the players not so excitable feelings have been dropped one by A’s pitcher Luis Severino who said Sutter Health was a minor league park and A’s manager Mark Kotsay saying the site lines when a ball is hit down the left field line you can’t see it from where he’s standing in the dugout.

#4 The long and short of it Shooty should the A’s put an end to this three year interim agreement with the Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive and open up discussions with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to return to the Coliseum and play their final two years after this season in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas in 2028? The Coliseum isn’t perfect but it’s a big league stadium and it would be a good temporary place until the Vegas park is built?

#5 The A’s had the day off on Monday and open a two game series in Houston on Tuesday night at Daikin Field in Houston. The A’s will be going with starter LHP JP Sears (4-4 ERA 4.00) Astros RHP Hunter Brown (6-3 ERA 2.04) will start to open the brief series first pitch is 5:10pm PDT.

Shooty Babitt is a former 1981 second baseman for the Oakland A’s, Shooty worked as an NBC Sports Bay Area A’s analyst and is currently a scout for the A’s and filled in for Tony Renteria who does the A’s podcasts each Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Boras says health and safety at issue with playing in Sacramento; Agent says A’s should work out deal with AASEG to stay in Oakland

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Major League Baseball agent Scott Boras appeared on 1530 KFBK Sacramento Thu Sep 12, 2024 saying that Sutter Health Park is a minor league facility and that Oakland A’s games should continue to be played at the Oakland Coliseum. Boras said that the players are not happy about the Sutter Health upgrades which includes artificial turf that will raise the temperature surface on the field and a much smaller facility for big league players. (photo taken Mar 20, 2024 by AP News)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Construction at Sutter Health Park is being worked on for the clubhouses, weight rooms, family facilities, press boxes, and seats at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento to get it ready for both the Sacramento River Cats and Sacramento A’s for 2025.

#2 With the latest wrinkle last Thursday when baseball agent Scott Boras said the players are not on board with the upgrades including artificial turf being installed due to it raising the temperature on the field. Boras said that Sutter Health Park would be the only artificial turf outdoor stadium in MLB and with players being worth millions of dollars they could get burned sliding on the hot turf causing significant injuries.

#3 Another issue like the public funding in Las Vegas for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark the A’s need to get their share of the construction costs in order before the December deadline or that funding from the State of Nevada goes away . With the Sacramento ballpark if the players and MLB can’t get to a middle ground on playing the next four seasons on artificial turf and playing in a minor league stadium that also could end up being a stalemate.

#4 Boras said one of the best solutions is for the A’s to go back to the Oakland Coliseum where the players want to finish up at until the Las Vegas ballpark is built (if at all). Another scenario the new Oakland Coliseum property owners the African American Sports Entertainment Group can offer the A’s a good rental deal to come back and play at the Coliseum and offer to help build a stadium at the Coliseum.

#5 Baseball Commissioner said there is no deal in Oakland, Oakland is a dead issue, and MLB does not want to play at the Oakland Coliseum anymore. This is where the Players Association and MLB might hit a fork in the road over forcing the players to play in an outdoor minor league stadium with artificial turf and minor league facilities vs. getting back to Coliseum which the MLBPA want to play out until the Las Vegas scenario is worked out. This is a scenario that could go sideways and hold up the Sacramento relocation.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s say they’re in good shape on ballpark construction costs won’t need to use all $380 million of state money

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Sandy Dean a family business partner of Oakland A’s owner John Fisher addresses the Las Vegas Stadium Authority at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thu Jul 18, 2024 regarding the financing of the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority was notified by the Oakland A’s that they are in good financial standing and will not need to use all of the $380 million in public funds to pay for the construction towards the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.

#2 The Stadium Authority met with Sandy Dean on Thursday. Dean a business partner with Oakland A’s owner John Fisher said the team is in “good shape” asked how the A’s are in good shape and where the finances were coming from to cover the $1.2 billion in construction costs Dean didn’t comment.

#3 Dean stated at the meeting that the A’s intend to use $350 million of the $380 million in public funds. Dean said the A’s never planned to use the full amount and that the remaining funding will be off set by debt financing.

#4 Public financing of the ballpark comes from transferable credits $180 million coming from the State of Nevada, another $120 million coming from Clark County bonds, and county infrastructure costs will run $25 million. So it looks like Nevada is ready to pitch in for their share of the costs.

#5 Still after the meeting the question of where Fisher was going to come up with his share of the construction costs at $1.2 million was an issue. In a March 2024 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle Fisher told the paper that payments for the construction costs at $200 million from debt, $500 million from the Fisher family, and another $500 million from investors. It’s mid July and there has been no word on where the money is coming from from Fisher’s share of the construction costs other than Dean saying the A’s are in “good shape” to cover the costs on the public money.

#6 News out of Sacramento Vivek Ranadive said that he’s prepared to spend millions for improvements to upgrade the park to MLB specs over the off season as the A’s will open the 2025 season at Sutter Health Park. The discussion of playing on turf has the Players Union concerned and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said all they have to do is put some water on the turf and that should cool things off and solve the problem.

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

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada may not sit still for A’s barnstorming ideas

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Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Mary Beth Sewald and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher at a preview regarding the A’s move to Las Vegas on Wed Jan 24, 2024. Sewald might be in for a disappointment after it was learned the A’s plan to play 10% of their home games away from Las Vegas (file photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s Relocaton podcast with Daniel:

#1 Not only are the Oakland A’s relocating after this season to Sacramento in 2025 and Las Vegas in 2028 once they land in Vegas they plan to play ten percent of their home games in different locations for the purpose of marketing the team.

#2 Daniel, this idea is not go over too well with Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steven Hill who pushed for the A’s move to Vegas now only to learn that 10% of the scheduled home games will be played elsewhere and take away that revenue from the City of Las Vegas?

#3 How much of this idea can infuriate not only Hill but also the Nevada State Legislature who is giving the A’s and Bally’s $380 million in public funds to help pay for the Tropicana ballpark?

#4 The A’s could very well be liking the idea of making Sacramento their permanent home. A’s owner John Fisher could be looking at working with Sacramento Rivercats owner and Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive towards the idea of building and MLB park in Sacramento and getting out of the Las Vegas deal by entertaining the 10% home away from home idea?

#5 The idea of the A’s getting out of Vegas and MLB approving it would relieve Fisher from trying to come up with his share of the construction costs at $500 million and it would give Las Vegas an opportunity to still use the $380 million of public funds towards a MLB expansion team.

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

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: How will MLB work in a minor league park?

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Sutter Health Park in Sacramento the home of the A’s for the 2025-27 seasons as it looked on Fri Mar 4, 2024 during the press conference for Oakland A’s owner John Fisher and Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Oakland Athletics announced today that they have agreed with the Sacramento Kings, the owners of the Sacramento River Cats, to play for three years at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento with an option for a fourth year, as they await for their supposed new ballpark in Las Vegas to somehow open.

#2 According to sources, Schools Over Stadiums will be in the Nevada Supreme Court arguing against the funding of SB1, the bill that gives government funding to the A’s ballpark. Another hurdle is the fact that A’s Owner John Fisher has not made any indication that he has the money to cover his part of the Tropicana stadium.

#3 It is quite a remarkable move for Sacramento and the Kings, considering the Kings nearly left Sacramento on several different occasions under the ownership of Joe and Gavin Maloof, two irresponsible owners with the same level of ethics and trustworthiness as John Fisher.

#4 What makes it even more infuriating is that the A’s will not even use Sacramento in their name while they bring Major League Baseball to the city for the first time. In fact, they won’t use any city’s name; for at least the next three years, they will be referred to as just the “Athletics” or the “A’s.”

#5 How will Major League Baseball work in a minor league park? How many changes will the Rivercats and A’s have to make to the park to make it work for the interim three years?

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s to play home games in Sacramento in 2025; As the Park Turns – What Sacramento will not ask the A’s

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Outside of Sutter Health Park a simulated West Sacramento Bridge slide next to the real one equipped with glove in the children’s playground. Sutter Health Park will be the home of the 2025-28 Oakland A’s while the Tropicana Ballpark in Las Vegas will be constructed and ready by 2028. (photo by Sutter Health Park)

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s will be playing their 2025 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the A’s and Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive have come to agreement and pathway for the A’s to play all their home games in Sacramento. The details of the plan are forthcoming at the end of the week according to Sactown Sports.

The A’s announced Tuesday after they reviewed the “leaked to the media” proposal/offer to the A’s to extend their Coliseum lease for five years (minimum of three) for $97 million plus other demands. The A’s put a press release stating that they did not agree and that no further meetings were planned with Oakland officials. This long A’s stadium saga is not as long as ‘As the World Turns”, the legendary TV Soap Opera that ran on CBS for 54 years. But it is becoming like the Telemundo “Esmeralda”.

Nobody knows how this is going to end. Many say, “It is not a done deal,” leaving from Oakland to Las Vegas. I agree that the only “done deal” in life are taxes and death and that The Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel has closed its doors after more than six decades of memories. The famed venue, home to the city’s longest-running cabaret, The Folies Bergere, nearly made it to its 67th anniversary before closing on Tuesday, April 2. We know these things are a “done deal”.

However, we know that Sacramento will not ask for the following:

1-Sacramento will not ask the A’s for $97 million to play there for three years or maybe five. 2-They will not ask the A’s to sell half of their stake in the Alameda-County Coliseum, among other demands Oakland had in that proposal, including extending their lease. Oakland is not Sacramento.

However, Sacramento is especially interested in the A’s because, as a “trial for a few years” at Sutter Park, if they get the A’s, they are banking that they can prove to Major League Baseball that their city of Sacramento should be seriously considered for a future expansion team.

Sutter Park’s 14,000-plus capacity is not MLB standard, but for the A’s in the last few years, including the first home stand this 2024 season, that is a good crowd. Opening Night at Oakland 2024 last Thursday, 13,522 fans attended the game against Cleveland, and at least half were rooting for the Guardians, maybe more. The A’s fans’ noise came from the crowd boycotting in the parking lot.

But let’s get to the point. David Samson was the President of the Major League Miami Marlins from 2002 to 2017. He was involved with the new Marlins Park next to Little Havana in Miami—the ins and outs of the new Marlins Park.

Samson hosts “Nothing Personal,” a top-rated podcast. He has been following the A’s stadium situation for a long time. This is what Mr. Samson said a day before the A’s met with the City of Oakland, and they did not agree to the 3-5 year extension at the Oakland Coliseum. By the way, Samson also predicted that nothing would be decided upon during the meeting (the third) between the A’s and Oakland. He has experience as an MLB team President, especially when his team, the Marlins, was building their new ballpark, which they play today,

Mr. Samson said this on his podcast: “The A’s need to find a stadium to play before Las Vegas Stadium if they even open. In other words, they need to get a deal in Sacramento and negotiate a deal with their TV partner. Figure out the logistics with the Rivercats.

They have to make sure it is a Major League-ready facility and what this is code for; it doesn’t mean the fans have to have concession stands or that there is good ingress and egress. When you say Major League ready, all that means is players’ facilities behind the scenes you do not see as a fan. It means the weight room, the food room, how the players get to the clubhouse, how they get to the bullpen, all the pleasures and comfort that Tony Clark loves to make sure players enjoy during the season.” (quote)

Commissioner Rob Manfred is under pressure to deliver a playing baseball-ready park for the Oakland A’s while building their new facility in Las Vegas, expected to be ready for Opening Day 2028. Manfred said MLB needs a schedule.

The other teams (including the A’s) deserve a schedule very soon; that is the norm. Tony Clark is the Executive Director of the Major League Players Association. Sure, he will have to say that if Sutter Park is a “baseball-ready” facility, everybody knows it is a minor league park, but the A’s are running out of options. The A’s and the City of Oakland have been butting heads for a long time. Some say today (Wednesday), Sacramento might have a deal in place.

The Next chapter is being scripted.

Adiós.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg also does News and Commentary 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.