River Cats Clinch Record Sixth-Straight Division Crown
Published on August 29, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS - Jemile Weeks' two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning lifted the Sacramento River Cats to a 4-3 win and their record sixth-straight Pacific Coast League division championship Wednesday night at Security Service Field, ensuring the Cats their 11th postseason berth in the franchise's 13 seasons.
The six-straight division titles are unprecedented in the 110-year history of the PCL. The Albuquerque Dukes had the best record in the PCL Southern Division for five-straight seasons from 1987-91 in an era during which the PCL honored "half-season" champions, but did not claim either half in 1991 despite having the best overall record in the division. There have been numerous other teams to win three-straight "true" division titles in the history of the PCL-beginning with the Seattle Rainiers (1939-41)-despite all eight PCL clubs playing in one division at that time.
Sacramento became the first team to win four-straight division titles with their 2010 Pacific Southern Division crown. Since the PCL went to the current four-division format in 1998, Nashville (2005-07) and Salt Lake (2006-08) are the only clubs other than Sacramento to win three-straight division championships. Since the turn of the century, no other professional sports franchise has won as many division titles as the River Cats.
"It's a truly remarkable feat," said Dwight Hall, the PCL's director of baseball operations, "seemingly even more so in today's game, where the specialization and expectations at the Major League level increasingly cause organizations to carefully manage the available resources at Triple-A as an extension of the big-league roster. And accordingly, you have to salute the A's player development efforts, as well as the River Cats club and their fans for providing an outstanding atmosphere for those efforts to flourish."
River Cats general manager Jeff Savage agreed.
"This accomplishment speaks to the dedication and professionalism of the Oakland Athletics front office, including general manager Billy Beane, farm director Keith Lieppman and the entire A's player development staff. I am so happy for manager Darren Bush and his coaching staff, all of the River Cats players, and our loyal fans, who have supported this franchise throughout this incredible run of championships."
The Cats will open the first round of the playoffs at Raley Field on Wednesday, Sept. 5 and Thursday, Sept. 6 with 7:05 p.m. start times. Games three, four and five will be played on the road at the home of the PCL Northern Division champions.
The two potential home dates for the River Cats in the second round of the playoffs are Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 11-12. The Triple-A National Championship Game-a one-game event featuring the champions from the Pacific Coast League and the International League-will be played on Tuesday, Sept. 18 in Durham, N.C.
Fans can purchase four-game "strips" of tickets to all four potential home playoff games or individual game tickets to select games. Four-game strips range from $24 to $60, with single-game tickets starting at $8. Playoff tickets are available at ticketmaster.com, by calling (916) 371-HITS or by visiting Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office.
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2013 River Cats Season Tickets are on sale now by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). 2012 playoff tickets, starting at just $8, are available online at ticketmaster.com and at Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office, with four-game playoff strips starting at $24. More information about the Sacramento River Cats can be found at www.rivercats.com, on Facebook or on Twitter (@rivercats). For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 29, 2012
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- RedHawks Rout Isotopes, 11-0 - Oklahoma City Comets
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- Omaha Slugs Memphis - Memphis Redbirds
- Omaha Bounces Back to Beat Memphis - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Round Rock Express Cruise Past New Orleans 10-6 - Round Rock Express
- River Cats Clinch Record Sixth-Straight Division Crown - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Blank I-Cubs for Fourth Straight Victory - Nashville Sounds
- Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. New Orleans Zephyrs - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks Game Notes: August 29, 2012 - Oklahoma City Comets
- RedHawks, Hertz to Honor Reverend Bill Greason Tomorrow - Oklahoma City Comets
- John Ely Named PCL Pitcher of the Year - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Ely Earns 2012 PCL Pitcher of the Year - PCL1
- Aces Foundation, JAKKS Pacific to Donate 15,000 Toys to Northern Nevada Children - Reno Aces
- Sounds to Welcome Goodlettsville Little League U.S. Champions to Greer Saturday - Nashville Sounds
- Isotopes hampered by 'Hawks - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Fresno Hands Aces 4-3 Loss in 12 Innings - Reno Aces
- Tucson wins victory - Tucson Padres
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