PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

Walk-Off Single Propels Cats, Winning-Streak at Six

Published on May 16, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento River Cats picked up their sixth-consecutive victory with a 5-4 win over the Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday night at Raley Field on second baseman Jose Martinez's walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Tacoma right fielder Jabari Blash started the scoring with a towering, solo home run to left field off of River Cats starter Matt Buschmann (1-0, 6.43 ERA) in the top of the second. The homer was the second on the season for Blash and gave the Rainiers an early 1-0 advantage.

The lead wouldn't last for long as Sacramento put up two runs in the bottom-half of the frame. Designated hitter Philip Pohl hit an RBI double off Tacoma lefty James Gillheeney (1-3, 7.88 ERA) that scored Jose Martinez and Nick Buss to make it a 2-1 ballgame in favor of the River Cats.

Gilheeney pitched three innings, allowing three runs-one earned-with three walks and three strikeouts in the contest. Buschmann, making his first start since coming off the disabled list for Sacramento, tossed five strong innings, surrendering eight hits and three earned runs with one walk and five punchouts.

After Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a two-run Cats lead, the Rainiers responded in the top of the fifth with RBI singles by Abraham Almonte and Jesus Montero to tie the score at three.

Sacramento would break the tie again in the bottom of the inning on a solo homer to left field by Martinez, his second of the year. Martinez continued his hot-hitting, going 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBI on the evening.

With the score 4-3, Tacoma found a way to knot the game at four in the top of the sixth inning. Leury Bonilla's infield single to shortstop helped move Humberto Quintero to third, but a throwing-error by Cats shortstop Andy Parrino after a diving-stop behind second base allowed Quintero to score.

With the game tied at four through nine innings of play, fans at Raley Field were treated to some free baseball. The contest remained knotted at four until the bottom of the 11th inning. Parrino doubled to right field to start the inning and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Shane Peterson. Martinez came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded and delivered a game-winning single to center field.

Earning the victory for the River Cats was Jose Flores, who pitched a scoreless 11th inning and moves to 2-0 on the season. Tacoma southpaw Clay Rapada picks up his first loss of his 2014 campaign, going to 4-1 on the year. The walk-off victory was the fourth time in five games that the Cats have won in their final at-bat.

River Cats pitchers struck out a season-high 15 batters. Relievers Fernando Nieve, Jeremy McBryde, and Paul Smyth combined to strikeout 10 Rainiers in five innings pitched. Tacoma's bullpen was equally impressive, yielding just two runs in 7.2 innings of work.

Sacramento and Tacoma go at it again on Fireworks Friday night at Raley Field, where Sonny Gray garden gnomes will be given away to the first 2,500 fans at the ballpark. Righty Arnold Leon (2-1, 4.15 ERA) takes the rubber for the River Cats against Rainiers starter Andrew Carraway (2-1, 3.98 ERA) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 16, 2014


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