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Sacramento River Cats

Nakajima Leads Cats Past Zephyrs, 3-2

May 21, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Hiro Nakajima-making his first start at second base-drove in both the game-tying, and go-ahead runs to give the River Cats a 3-2 victory at Raley Field in Monday's series premier against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

Jemile Weeks led off the bottom of the first with a walk, advancing to second on a botched pickoff attempt. A passed ball allowed him to move to third, and after Hiro Nakajima drew a walk, Weeks came around to score on a ground out from Grant Green.

New Orleans took the lead in the third, scoring twice on back-to-back RBI-singles from Bryan Peterson and Kevin Kouzmanoff. In the bottom of the fifth, however, Nakajima singled-home Scott Moore to tie the game at two. Two innings later, Nakajima put Sacramento ahead for good, flying into a sacrifice double play that scored Moore a second time. Three runs would prove to be all the River Cats would need, ultimately coming away with a 3-2 victory.

Nakajima finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk, while Moore went 0-for-1 with two runs and a walk. Grant Green led off the bottom of the eighth with a double, snapping a streak of 24 innings without an extra-base hit by the River Cats. Weeks was the only River Cat to reach base more than two times, going 1-for-1 with a run and two walks.

Sacramento starter Travis Banwart took a no-decision, giving up two earned runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in four innings pitched. Paul Smyth-added to Sacramento's roster earlier in the day-made his Triple-A debut, striking out four and allowing one hit in two innings of work. Brian Gordon was credited with the win, tossing two shutout innings, and Dan Otero notched his 11th save in as many chances with a perfect ninth inning.

Jonathan Albaladejo suffered the loss, giving up one run in his one inning of work, while Kouzmanoff-a former River Cat-made his Zephyrs debut, finishing 1-for-4 with one RBI.

Game two of the series is set for 7:05 p.m. on a Tuesday evening that both Tecate Tuesday and Toyota Family Value Tuesday, with River Cats righty Sonny Gray (4-2, 2.47 ERA) taking on Zephyrs southpaw Brad Hand (2-3, 3.19 ERA).

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