Deflino Plays Hero in 4-3 Walk-Off Win

May 30, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release

West Sacramento, CA - The series between the Sacramento River Cats (22-30) and the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-3 (26-23) opened with a dramatic, walk off win and closed the same way Monday afternoon at Raley Field. In a memorable Memorial Day matinee, the River Cats went home 4-3 winners on Mitch Delfino's walk-off single.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the inning, Delfino came to the plate looking for his first hit of the day. The Santa Rosa native had been 0-for-4 coming into the at bat, but was able to was able to drive a Jacob Rhame fastball down the right-field line, scoring centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez from second.

Hernandez had extended the inning with a two-out double to left field before the Dodgers chose to intentionally walk the switch-hitting Ramiro Pena to face Delfino. For Delfino, it was RBI number 13 on the season and gave the River Cats their third walk-off win of the season. Hernandez has been involved in all three, hitting a walk-off home run against Las Vegas earlier this season and scoring the winning run in both walk-off victories this series.

Not to be overshadowed by the late game heroics was Clayton Blackburn and his electric start. The right-hander went seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk. The 23-year-old was able to take advantage of the Dodgers' swing and miss tendencies, striking out a season-best eight. The Dodgers came into today's finale leading the Pacific Coast League with 452 strikeouts on the season.

Unfortunately, Blackburn was saddled with a no decision in the contest, as Steven Okert took over in the eighth and allowed three dodgers runs to score. Okert ended up with the win, throwing two innings and allowing one run on one hit while striking out three.

With the win, the River Cats split the series with the Dodgers 2-2 and, following their 3-1 series win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, clinched their first winning homestand of the season.

The River Cats will head back on the road early tomorrow morning as they head to El Paso to face the Southern Division leaders, the Chihuahuas. Chris Heston (1-4. 3.72) will open things up for Sacramento as the Chihuahuas respond with veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (2-5, 7.00). First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. and the game can be heard live online at rivercats.com.

***

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.

Pacific Coast League Stories from May 30, 2016

• Deflino Plays Hero in 4-3 Walk-Off Win - Sacramento River Cats
• Delfino Sends Dodgers Back to OKC with Walk-Off Loss - Oklahoma City Comets
• Grizzlies and Sky Sox tie 6-6 on Memorial Day - Fresno Grizzlies
• Sky Sox and Fresno End in Rare Tie 6-6 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
• Arturo Reyes Dominates Las Vegas in 9-3 Memphis Win - Memphis Redbirds
• Homestand Ends in Loss 8-3 - Salt Lake Bees
• Olson Plates Half of Sounds Runs in 8-3 Win - Nashville Sounds
• Chihuahuas End Road Trip with 12-0 Win - El Paso Chihuahuas
• Martinez Shines as Round Rock Beats Reno 4-1 - Round Rock Express
• Zephyrs-Rainiers Finale Ends in Rare Tie - New Orleans Baby Cakes
• Rainiers, Zephyrs Play To 2-2 Tie In New Orleans - Tacoma Rainiers
• Contreras Homers Twice, I-Cubs Sweep - Iowa Cubs
• Aces Dealt Series Loss in Round Rock - Reno Aces
• Iowa Powers Way to Sweep of Albuquerque - Albuquerque Isotopes
• Sky Sox OF Shane Peterson Named PCL Player of the Week - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
• OKC Dodgers Game Notes - May 30, 2016 - Oklahoma City Comets
• Peterson, Cotton Honored for Weekly Performances - PCL1
• Reno Aces Game Information: Reno Aces (24-25) at Round Rock Express (27-22) - Reno Aces
• Nashville Sounds Game Information: Nashville Sounds (30-20) at Salt Lake Bees (25-23) - Nashville Sounds
• Choi Shines in Bees Loss - Salt Lake Bees
• Sounds Win Seventh in a Row with 7-4 Win - Nashville Sounds

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.

Other Recent Sacramento River Cats Stories

• Whisenhunt Dominates Bees, Earns PCL Pitcher of the Week Honor
• Second Half Promotional Schedule Announced by River Cats
• Whisenhunt Carves Way to PCL Pitcher of the Week Honor
• Sacramento River Cats Unveil Gold Diggers Alternate Identity
• Carson Seymour Tabbed PCL Pitcher of the Week