All-Star First Basemen Clash in Season Series Finale
July 20, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The River Cats will face the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres) for the fourth and final time this season as El Paso makes their second appearance at Raley Field to kick off a four-game series. Fresh off the All-Star break, the stage is set for an electric match-up with both teams returning All-Star first basemen-Sacramento's Adam Duvall and El Paso's Cody Decker.
Scouting the Teams
Sitting in second place in the Pacific Southern division (7.5 games back from Las Vegas), the Chihuahuas are hitting an impressive .290 (93-for-321) while scoring 50 runs as a team in their last 10 games. They enter West Sacramento coming off a tight series in Fresno, where they dropped 2 of 3 with the fourth game being postponed due to weather.
Sacramento is coming off a strong showing in their first series back from the All-Star Break. The River Cats took 3 of 4 in Tacoma and tallied double-digit hits in four straight games. They are now hitting .302 at a team on the road and are 24-23, versus just .238 and 18-30 at Raley Field.
Players to Watch
INF Cody Decker closed out the first half with 15 home runs, a .263 batting average, and 55 RBIs. The All-Star first baseman has hurt the River Cats this season, hitting .333 with a homer, three RBIs, and four walks in nine games.
El Paso's OF Tommy Medica has been on a tear, hitting .457 over his last 10 games. The right-hander has hit 2 home runs while driving in 9 and scoring twice over that time. Also worth noting, C Rocky Gale is hitting .423 (11-for-26) over his last seven games. In that time, he scored five times while driving in four.
Before heading to the All-Star game, INF Adam Duvall closed out the first half of the season on a high note. He is hitting .364 (24-for-66) in July with 7 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. Three of his home runs came in the same game, a 7-3 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies, tying a River Cats franchise record. It was the first three-homer game of Duvall's professional career and first such game for the River Cats this season.
INF Kevin Frandsen has had great success against El Paso this season. In four games against the Chihuahuas, Frandsen is hitting .391 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Both the utility infielder's home runs this season have come against El Paso.
Matchup History
Sacramento will fight to protect their home turf as the River Cats hold a 2-2 record at home this season against the Chihuahuas. In 2015, they are 3-9 overall against El Paso. This will be the 29th contest between the two teams, with the Chihuahuas leading 17-11 all-time.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, July 20 (7:05 p.m. PDT): LHP Nik Turley (3-4, 5.56) vs. RHP Bryan Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00)
Tuesday, July 21 (7:05 p.m. PDT): LHP Ty Blach (8-8, 4.23) vs. LHP Jason Lane (7-6, 5.28)
Wednesday, July 22 (12:05 p.m. PDT): RHP Chris Stratton (0-2, 2.42) vs. RHP Chris Smith (1-5, 4.06)
Thursday, July 23 (7:05 p.m. PDT): RHP Tommy Hanson (0-2, 7.11) vs. RHP Daniel McCutchen (4-5, 4.52)
***
The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants. The team plays at Raley Field in West Sacramento, consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2015 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). 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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