Turley, River Cats Done In By Long Ball

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento River Cats were done in by the long ball Tuesday night, falling 5-2 to the visiting Reno Aces. Each team slugged two home runs, accounting for all seven runs in the game. Unfortunately for the River Cats, all home runs are not created equal, and Reno's multi-run shots were more than Sacramento could handle.  

Reno struck first with one on and one out in the fourth. Cody Ransom turned on a fastball from River Cats starter Nik Turley (6-9, 4.89), yanking it out toward the home clubhouse and putting the Aces up 2-0. Turley fell victim to the long ball again in the fifth inning, serving up a three-run jack to Reno's Jamie Romak. The home run was Romak's 26th of the season, moving him into a tie for first in the PCL with former River Cats infielder Adam Duvall.

Entering tonight, Turley had allowed just one home run at Raley Field in his last 38.2 innings. For the season, the southpaw has served up seven home runs now at home (55.1 innings). He went 4.1 innings in this one, giving up five runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four.

Brandon Hicks smashed his first home run of the season, a solo shot to deep left field to give the River Cats their first run of the night. Hicks, who hit six home runs in 45 Triple-A games last season, now has 98 career MiLB home runs. The River Cats scored their second run on Jarrett Parker's 21st home run of the season. Parker led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo homer to right-center, cutting the deficit to three.

The River Cats bullpen continued to dominate, posting another scoreless outing. Curtis Partch, Steven Okert, and Clay Rapada combined for 4.2 scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just one hit. In their last five games, River Cats relievers have allowed just one run in 17.2 innings of work while striking out 22.

Aaron Blair looked great for the Aces, cruising through eight innings to his seventh win. The right-hander allowed just one run on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

The River Cats and Aces will face off tomorrow night for game three of the series. Sacramento will send right-hander Edwin Quirarte (0-0, 0.00) to the mound for his River Cats and Triple-A debut. The 28-year-old hurler was 0-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 23 games with the Double-A Richmond Squirrels. Reno will counter with right-hander Archie Bradley (0-0, 3.24). Bradley, who started the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, has made just two other starts with Reno this season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

***

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.