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Sacramento River Cats

Second-Inning Outburst Helps Cats Snap Skid

August 20, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Early offense helped propel the Sacramento River Cats (73-58) over the Oklahoma City RedHawks (68-64) 7-4 in the series-finale on Toyota Family Value Tuesday at Raley Field.

The River Cats jumped on RedHawks starter Luis Cruz (1-1, 7.90 ERA) early, picking up four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman Colin Walsh delivered a two-run single to center to give the Cats a 2-0 edge. A sacrifice-fly from right fielder Craig Gentry and an RBI-single by center fielder Nick Buss put Sacramento ahead by four through the first two innings.

Yuba City-native Max Stassi got Oklahoma City on the board with style in the top of the third, hitting a towering solo homer off River Cats starter Zach Neal (6-7, 4.53 ERA) to cut the deficit to three. The home run was number seven on the year for the RedHawks catcher, who finished the night 1-for-4 with the homer. Neal induced an unconventional double play to end the inning, but not before one more run crossed home plate to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

Cats catcher Ryan Ortiz drew a bases-loaded walk from Cruz in the bottom of the third to score Jose Martinez, giving Sacramento its three-run lead back and ending Cruz's night. The lefty took the loss for Oklahoma City after tossing just 2.2 innings and surrendering five earned runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout.

Pacific Coast League MVP-candidate Shane Peterson added to his club's lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with his 11th homer of the season, a two-run blast to right field that extended Sacramento's lead to five. The left fielder went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks, and his 81st and 82nd RBI of 2014.

Neal ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh, giving up two runs to Oklahoma City on RBI-singles by shortstop Jonathan Villar and designated hitter L.J. Hoes to make the score 7-4 in favor of the Cats. Reliever Joe Savery was able to work out of the jam and keep the River Cats up by three heading into the eighth.

Savery retired the RedHawks in order in the top of the eighth and Jeremy McBryde earned save number 15 on the year with a perfect ninth inning of relief. Neal picked up the win for the Cats, pitching 6.2 innings and yielding four runs - two earned - on 10 hits and one walk while striking out seven.

The bottom-half of the River Cats lineup played a vital role in the club's victory as shortstop Jose Martinez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, third baseman Alden Carrithers finished 2-for-2, scoring a run and drawing a walk, while Walsh completed the game 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.

Villar went 3-for-4 for the RedHawks, driving in one and stealing his 22nd base of the season and first baseman Carlos Perez ended the evening 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Sacramento starts their final eight-game road trip of the season with four games in Memphis against the Redbirds. Righty Matt Buschmann (7-6, 4.59 ERA) will take the mound for the River Cats against Redbirds lefty John Gast (3-2, 4.85 ERA) with first pitch slated for 5:05 p.m. at AutoZone Park.

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River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2014 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). Single-game tickets can now be purchased at Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office or online at rivercats.com or ticketmaster.com. For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.

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