Duvall Hits For First Cycle In River Cats History

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The hits just kept on coming in the River Cat's 15-7 rout of the Salt Lake Bees Sunday afternoon at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake. Sacramento was led by their third basemen and clean-up hitter Adam Duvall, who hit for the first cycle in River Cats franchise history. Duvall was 5-6 with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBIs on the afternoon.

Duvall got started early, hitting his first double and knocking in his first run in the top of the first inning, giving the River Cats a 1-0 lead. He notched his second double of the afternoon in his next at bat in the third inning, scoring when the next batter, Jarrett Parker, followed with a single to left.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Duvall crushed an 0-1 fastball deep to left field. The ball landed on the roof of one of Smith's Ballpark's concession buildings some 470 feet away from home plate. The solo shot gave the River Cats a 4-3 lead.

Duvall's only out of the game, a swinging strikeout, came in the 6th inning. He followed that with a two-RBI triple in the 7th, pushing the River Cats lead to seven at 11-4. Duvall's sixth at bat of the game came in the top of the 9th inning. He bounced a soft ground ball just past the pitcher and just out of reach of Bees shortstop Josh Rutledge, who couldn't come up with the barehanded grab. Duvall's cycle is the first in the River Cats' 16-year franchise history.

Duvall's teammate Darren Ford had his own cycle bid in the works, ending his day 3-5 with a double, an RBI-triple, and a home run. The River Cats top of the ninth ended with him in the on deck circle just a single shy of the cycle.

Overall, the River Cats had 21 hits, 13 of which went for extra bases. In addition to Duvall and Ford, Parker, John Bowker, Carlos Triunfel, and Juan Perez each recorded a double. Triunfel also contributed a triple and Ehire Adrianza added a solo home run of his own. The team was 8-19 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Each starter had at least one RBI and Duvall, Ford, Perez, and Adrianza all had multiple.

The Bees also had a great day at the plate, but were outdone by Duvall and the River Cats. Salt Lake tallied seven runs on 15 hits and three walks. Together, the teams combined for 22 runs on 35 hits.

River Cats starter Robert Coello pitched well, earning the win. Coello allowed only three of Salt Lake's seven runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four. He moves to 2-0 on the season with a 2.65 ERA. Bees starter Drew Rucinski was making his first start at Triple-A this season, having just arrived to the team from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Rucinski tossed three innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two.

The finale of this four-game series is set for tomorrow evening. First pitch is at 5:35 p.m. PST and will feature Sacramento's lefty Brualio Lara (0-1, 3.60) against Salt Lake's lefty and Angels' top prospect Andrew Heany (1-0, 4.70).

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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 2015 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.