Nakajima Debuts; River Cats Shut Out 51s, 3-0

May 3, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Hiro Nakajima went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his debut, and Bruce Billings tossed 6.2 scoreless innings as the River Cats shut out the visiting Las Vegas 51s at Raley Field on Friday night by a score of 3-0.

Billings (2-1) was practically unhittable from the outset, striking out eight with one walk and three hits in his 6.2 innings of work for the win. Hideki Okajima and Dan Otero combined for 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to give the River Cats their first shutout of the 2013 season.

The River Cats struck first in the fifth inning when Nakajima doubled-home Scott Moore to give Sacramento a 1-0 advantage. In the next inning, Michael Choice hit a towering shot over the Jackson Rancheria Home Run Terrace in left field, and clear out of the ballpark for his sixth long ball of the season. Sacramento's third and final run came in the eighth, when Grant Green scored from second on a passed ball and a throwing error from Las Vegas catcher Juan Centeno.

Nakajima finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a fielding error in his first MLB rehab game with the River Cats. Choice finished 3-for-4 with the mammoth home run, moving his batting average to .318 on the, while Shane Peterson finished 3-for-4 with a steal. Dan Otero's scoreless ninth earned him his seventh save of the season-good for second in the Pacific Coast League.

The play of the game may have come from Las Vegas center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who robbed Stephen Vogt of his seventh home run of the year in the sixth inning by leaping and snagging the ball over the wall in right-center field, nearly flipping over and into the 51s bullpen.

The two teams return to Raley Field at 7:05 on a Sutter Health Fireworks Saturday as River Cats left-handed pitcher Justin Thomas (0-2, 4.73 ERA) takes on 51s righty D.J. Mitchell (1-0, 3.86 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 3, 2013

• Aces' Rally Not Enough in 7-6 Loss - Reno Aces
• Zephyrs Bullpen Implodes in 11-8 Loss at Albuquerque - New Orleans Baby Cakes
• Nakajima Debuts; River Cats Shut Out 51s, 3-0 - Sacramento River Cats
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• Omaha Storm Chasers May 3rd Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
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• California State Senator Tom Berryhill to Speak at May 17 Farm Forum - Fresno Grizzlies
• RedHawks Tonight's Game in Iowa Postponed - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
• I-Cubs Snowed out Tonight - Iowa Cubs
• Williams' 2 Home Runs Among Grizzlies' 15 Hits in 11-5 Win over Sacramento - Fresno Grizzlies
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