PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

Cats Lose to Zephyrs in Extras, 4-3

May 22, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sonny Gray struck out 11 batters in seven innings of work, but the River Cats fell to the visiting New Orleans Zephyrs by a score of 4-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday evening at Raley Field.

New Orleans wasted no time putting runs on the board, scoring in the top of the first when shortstop Gil Velasquez drove in Kevin Mattison on a ground out to third. Sacramento evened the score in the bottom half on a Grant Green RBI-single, scoring Jemile Weeks, tying the game at one.

Sacramento took a 2-1 lead in the second on a bases-loaded walk from Weeks, scoring Michael Taylor, but New Orleans tied the game at two with an RBI-single from Velasquez, scoring Gorkys Hernandez. The Zephyrs then took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Mattison hit a 2-0 pitch over the wall in right-center field for his first home run of the season.

Gray was sharp from the outset, exiting after seven innings having allowed just two earned runs on seven hits and zero walks with 11 strikeouts. After he departed, the River Cats tied the game at three in the bottom of the eighth when Taylor singled-home Hiro Nakajima. The game remained tied after nine innings, giving Sacramento its first extra-inning game at home this season. After the Zephyrs scored once in the top of the 10th on Vilasquez's third RBI, the River Cats were unable to put a run on the board in the bottom half, losing 4-3.

Gray earned a no-decision, while Evan Scribner suffered the loss-his first of the season-allowing one earned run and two hits in two innings with five strikeouts. The River Cats pitching staff combined to strike out 16 and walk just one. Taylor paced the Cats offensively, going 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a double. Nakajima finished 1-for-5 with a run scored and a double of his own.

The win went to southpaw Dan Jennings, who tossed 1.2 innings of relief. Chris Hatcher notched his 12th save of the season with a scoreless bottom of the 10th.

The two teams return to Raley Field at 12:05 p.m. on Free Parking Wednesday presented by Jiffy Lube when River Cats lefty Andrew Werner (4-5, 6.92 ERA) starts opposite Zephyrs righty A.J. Battisto (0-0, 7.97 ERA).

***

River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, Flex Plans and group outings are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). Individual game tickets, starting at just $8, are available now at ticketmaster.com and at Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office. For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.

Check out the Sacramento River Cats Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 22, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central