River Cats to face Tacoma Rainiers in first round of PCL playoffs

September 7, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release

West Sacramento, Calif. - On the final day of the regular season, the Sacramento River Cats finally know who their opponent will be in the first round of the PCL playoffs set to begin Wednesday, September 9th. The Tacoma Rainiers defeated the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Monday afternoon, 11-2, to claim the PCL Pacific Conference North Division title and earn a showdown with the Cats later this week. The match-up will be a rematch of the two teams' 2005 playoff series, which Tacoma won 3-games-to-1 and marks the last playoff series the River Cats lost.

The winner of the first round series between Sacramento and Tacoma will face the winner of the American Conference Championship Series between the Memphis Redbirds and the Albuquerque Isotopes, also set to begin on Wednesday.

This season, as the River Cats' vie for a third consecutive PCL and Triple-A Championship, the team has the opportunity to win both playoff series at home and celebrate in front of the Raley Field faithful. After playing play games 1 and 2 (Sept. 9 and 10) of the 5-game Pacific Conference Championship Series on the road, the team will head home to Raley Field to host games 3, 4 and 5 (games 4 and 5 if necessary) on September 11, 12 and 13, respectively. Tickets for all home playoff games still remain.

If the River Cats advance to the PCL Championship Series (also a best-of-five format), they will again play games 1 and 2 (Sept. 15 and 16) on the road and host games 3, 4 and 5 (games 4 and 5 if necessary) at Raley Field (Sept. 18, 19 and 20). If the River Cats were to win this series and be crowned Pacific Coast League Champions for the third straight year, they would then play the International League Champion in the Triple-A Championship Game in Oklahoma City broadcast worldwide on ESPN2 (Sept. 22). The complete playoff schedule is as follows (all times Pacific):

Pacific Coast League Stories from September 7, 2009

• Tacoma Rainiers win Division Championship - Tacoma Rainiers
• Tacoma romps Colorado Springs, 11-2 - Tacoma Rainiers
• River Cats to face Tacoma Rainiers in first round of PCL playoffs - Sacramento River Cats
• Aces go out with a bang, down Fresno 11-4 - Reno Aces
• Ramos, Beavers deal shutout to close out 2009 season on high note - Portland Beavers
• Nashville rallies past Zephyrs, 8-3 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
• Sounds Wrap Up 2009 Slate With 8-3 Victory - Nashville Sounds
• Cubs Drop Regular Season Finale to Albuquerque - Iowa Cubs
• RedHawks rally late, down 'Birds - Memphis Redbirds
• Gall steals show in Round Rock win - Round Rock Express
• Gall Retires After 10 Years In Baseball - Round Rock Express
• McKiernan Reassigned to Rancho Cucamonga - Salt Lake Bees
• RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets

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