Baseball returns to Sutter Health Park as River Cats drop opener

West Sacramento, Calif. — A ninth-inning homer brought the Sacramento River Cats (6-7) to within one but the Reno Aces (10-3) closed the door to hand the host club a narrow defeat in baseball’s return to Sutter Health Park.

Trailing by two in the ninth, shortstop Thairo Estrada led off the final inning with a solo shot – his team-leading fourth of the year. Both runs for Sacramento on Thursday night came by way of the long ball, with first baseman Jason Vosler going deep in the second inning for his first as a River Cat. Mitchell Tolman’s single would be the only other hit recorded by Sacramento.

The River Cats will be back at it tomorrow with three-time American League All-Star Scott Kazmir on the mound to make his first appearance at Sutter Health Park since June of 2011. He’ll square off with right-hander Jon Duplantier. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. (PT). Listen to all of the action live online at rivercats.com, on the MiLB First Pitch app.

Additional Notes

• Sutter Health Park reached its reduced capacity limit on Thursday night, giving the club its first “COVID sellout” of the 2021 season as 3,407 fans were in attendance for the home opener.
• Right-hander Jimmie Sherfy has pitched 6.2 innings, facing 24 batters, and has retired all but three of them. After another scoreless outing, he is one of four pitchers on the staff who have yet to allow an earned run this season.
• Tyler Beede made his fourth rehab start since beginning the season with Sacramento. Recovering from Tommy John surgery, the rare two-time first-round pick reached 53 pitches in just 2.2 innings, though he managed to keep the Aces off the board despite two hits and four walks.