River Cats Lose Series Opener, 6-3

July 2, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ryan Ortiz went 3-for-3 at the plate with three doubles and an RBI during his most productive night at the plate as a member of the River Cats in a 6-3 loss to the Tucson Padres on a Monday night at Raley Field.

The Cats struck first in the second inning with an Ortiz ground rule double, his second extra-base hit of the season to give Sacramento a 1-0 lead. Tucson got even in the next frame, scoring on an RBI single from Dean Anna. A four-run fourth inning in which the Padres sent eight hitters to the plate to face Sacramento starter Travis Banwart proved to be the difference in the game. An RBI single off the bat of Ben Francisco and a triple via Brandon Allen to bring home Francisco highlighted the scoring effort.

Shane Peterson gave the Cats another run in the seventh inning, scoring Ortiz on an RBI groundout to second base to cut the Sacramento deficit to four runs. Ortiz would score his second run of the game in the ninth inning, this time on an RBI single from Andy Parrino.

Starting in place of former-River Cat Justin Thomas, Banwart suffered his fifth loss of the season and third at home. Through 4.1 innings on the mound the right-hander surrendered six runs on nine hits while striking out five. Tucson starter Anthony Bass picked up the win for the Padres, working through six innings in which he only allowed one run off of one hit. Miles Mikolas picked up his 17th save of the season after coming in in relief of Colt Hynes to retire Cats outfielder Michael Choice for the last out of the game.

After going 0-for-5 tonight at the plate Cats infielder Grant Green snapped his season-high 10 game hit streak. The streak included a six game stretch in which Green recorded multiple hits each night. Ortiz's 3-for-3 with three doubles-two of which were ground rule-was a season-high for extra-base hits in a game for the catcher.

The River Cats return to Raley Field on Toyota Family Value Tuesday to for the second game of their three-game set with the Padres. Right-hander Sonny Gray (7-5, 3.02 ERA) will get the start for Sacramento, with Brandon Kloess (2-2, 4.37 ERA) set to head to the hill for the Padres.

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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 .

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