River Cats' offense a no-show in 2-1 loss

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA - It had been nine games since the Sacramento River Cats (13-17) had produced fewer than three runs or recorded fewer than five hits, but against the Las Vegas 51s (14-14) and starter Gabriel Ynoa Saturday night, the offense was nowhere to be found.

The River Cats were able to get on the board first thanks to first baseman Grant Green's fourth home run of the season in the second inning. Green came into tonight's game 1-for-5 lifetime against Ynoa, but lifted an 0-1 fastball over the leaping grasp of 51s' left fielder Ty Kelly to put Sacramento up 1-0. That would be all for the River Cats though, who were held scoreless for the remainder of the game.

The home run was the first surrendered by Ynoa this year, who entered the game with the third best ERA in the Pacific Coast League (2.05). Sacramento was batting 7-for-40 (.180) as a team against the 51s' right-hander, and didn't fare much better tonight, going 4-for-30 (.133). The score was a far cry from what the River Cats had been seeing recently, as they came into the night leading the Pacific Coast League in runs (47), hits (74), RBI (45), and home runs (11) for the month of May.

River Cats' starter Austin Fleet made his first start of the season and pitched admirably, holding the 51s to three hits over four innings of work, allowing two runs while walking two and striking four. The right-hander set a season high for innings pitched, strike outs, and pitches thrown (63). It was the first runs given up by Fleet at home this season and if not for two wild pitches, he may have kept his home-scoreless streak alive.

Jose Casilla looked strong in relief, making just his second Triple-A appearance of his career. The younger brother of San Francisco Giants closer Santiago Casilla, the righty went three scoreless innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out another. The southpaw Braulio Lara followed suit with his own scoreless relief appearance, his third straight.

The one through five hitters for Sacramento combined to go 0-for-19 tonight with Gorkys Hernandez the lone baserunner. The four-hit effort was their lowest since April 26 in a 1-0 shutout win over Tacoma. The team's batting average dropped four points to .284 as their record moved to 6-4 against Las Vegas (4-2 at home).

It's a Mother's Day matinee tomorrow as first pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. (PT). On the hill for Sacramento will be the right-hander Clayton Blackburn (1-2, 4.88) against Las Vegas' left-hander Sean Gilmartin (3-1, 2.70). The game can be heard live online at rivercats.com and on the air at ESPN 1320.

***

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 2016 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.