PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

First-Place Cats to Send Four Representatives to 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game

Published on July 1, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


West Sacramento, Calif. - River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson, catcher Eric Munson, left-handed reliever Jay Marshall and hitting coach Brian McArn have been selected to represent Sacramento at the 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 15th at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon, team and league officials announced today. Fan balloting helped to determine the rosters for the All-Star Game, accounting for one-third of the total vote along with ballots cast by members of the media and each club's field manager, coaches and general manager.

Also named to the All-Star Team was Fresno Grizzlies outfielder John Bowker, a Rio Americano High School graduate. Bowker and Fresno will face Sacramento on Thursday and Friday nights at Raley Field, which marks River Cats fans' final chance to see their All-Stars play before the team heads on an eight-game road trip leading up to the All-Star break. Friday's game, which has limited tickets remaining, is the team's Independence Day Celebration presented by U.S. Army. Because of the high demand for tickets on that night, a special fireworks show has been added to Thursday night's game.

The Triple-A All-Star Game pits the top prospects of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) against the best young stars of the International League (IL). This year's game is the 22nd year of the Triple-A tradition. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PST and the game will be televised nationally at ESPN2 and aired locally on the River Cats Flagship Radio Station, K-Hits 92.1 FM.

Patterson, acquired by the Chicago Cubs via trade on July 8, 2008, is currently batting .308 with a team-high 54 runs (sixth in the PCL). Patterson ranks third in the league in stolen bases (27), and has stolen home twice this season. The Atlanta, Georgia, native was named to the Pacific Coast League Postseason All-Star team after the 2008 season, when he hit .330 in 25 games with Sacramento. The 26-year-old has made 31 starts in the infield and 34 in the outfield this season.

Munson, who was signed by the Oakland A's organization this offseason, is second on the team with 38 RBIs and has a .275 batting average. In May, Munson hit .308 with four home runs and 24 RBIs. On May 11 at Las Vegas, Munson, a San Diego native, went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and six RBIs. Sacramento's record is 22-12 when the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Munson is starting behind the plate.

Marshall, who has played in the Oakland organization for the past three years, leads the team with a 1.75 ERA. Marshall has been dominant against lefties, holding left-handed batters to a paltry .161 batting average against. Marshall had a 21.0-inning scoreless streak from April 27 to June 6 that spanned 17 outings. The St. Louis, Missouri, native currently leads the PCL with 34 appearances and has a 3-1 record with two saves.

Patterson, Munson and Marshall will join River Cats Hitching Coach Brian McArn, who was named the hitting coach for the Pacific Coast League team in June. This marks the first Triple-A All-Star Game appearance for McArn, who is in his fifth season as the River Cats hitting coach.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 1, 2009


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