PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

Big Inning Sinks Stratton, River Cats

Published on May 11, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento River Cats (13-21) were unable to hit when it mattered most for the second game in a row as they fell 4-3 to the Reno Aces (14-18). In a series with serious division standing implications, Sacramento could not have found a worse time to go cold at the plate.

Chris Stratton took his team-best two home wins to the mound for Sacramento on Wednesday and went six innings, giving up four runs (all earned), five hits and one walk with four strikeouts. The team leader in strikeouts at home (15), Stratton threw first pitch strikes to 14 of the 22 batters he faced and finished with a season-low 77 pitches, 53 for strikes (69% strike rate).

So far this season, the first inning had been an issue for Stratton. Coming into today's game, the right-hander owned a season ERA of 15.00 with 10 earned runs through six first innings pitched. This afternoon however, it was the second inning that undid Stratton as he gave up all four of his runs in the decisive inning, including his second home run allowed to Pacific Coast League leader Peter O'Brien (10). Stratton had only allowed three total runs in all other second innings pitched this year.

Third baseman Grant Green did his best to be the catalyst for the offense, hitting a two-run fourth-inning home run two claw the 'Cats back into it, making the score 4-3. The team leader in RBI (23), Green has been a swiss-army knife of sorts for Sacramento, playing more positions than anyone else on the roster.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee registered the only other extra base hit on the day for the River Cats and scored the only other run. The team leader in on-base percentage (.395) Lee has been brilliant on the field this year as well, leading the PCL in defensive assists (87). Today alone, he made two outstanding barehanded defensive plays at short.

The River Cats have been bereft of nearly all offensive production the past seven games, registering only 12 runs and 42 hits hitting just .218 (42-for-196) in their last six games. Comparatively, Sacramento began the month by scoring 42 runs and racking up 64 hits in their first five games. As a team, Sacramento leads the PCL in home runs (32) and sacrifice bunts (18).

The River Cats now find themselves two games back of Reno and the Fresno Grizzlies in the standings and 6.5 behind the first place Tacoma Rainiers. They'll look to erase some of the deficit tomorrow as right-hander Joan Gregorio (0-0, No ERA) makes his Triple-A debut with Sacramento. Opposite Gregorio will be former San Francisco Giants prospect, left-hander Edwin Escobar (0-0, 3.38). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live online at riercats.com and on the air at ESPN 1320.

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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 2016 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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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2016


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