RedHawks Take Opener in Sacramento
Sacramento, Calif. - Three RedHawks hit home runs while Nelson Figueroa allowed two runs over five innings for a winning decision leading the Oklahoma City RedHawks (18-22) to a 6-3 win over the Sacramento River Cats (26-15) before 5,977 Thursday night at Raley Field.
Figueroa (1-0) allowed one hit and two walks over the first four innings, before giving up two runs in the fifth inning on a home run and a double play ground ball. The right-hander walked three in the game with four strikeouts in the winning decision. Graham Godfrey (4-1) took the loss after allowing three runs and four hits over three and two-thirds innings. Andy VanHekken (1) saved the game after loading the bases with no outs in the ninth before putting down the next three in order.
The RedHawks opened a 3-0 lead with single runs in the second, third and fourth inning. Max Ramirez reached second on an error and scored on a Brian Dopirak single for a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Brandon Barnes led off the third with a home run, his fifth with Oklahoma City, expanding the lead to 2-0. Dopirak blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning for a 3-0 score.
Sacramento added two runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to one run. Josh Donaldson led off with a home run for a 3-1 score. Jai Miller later walked, moved to third on a Shane Peterson single and scored on a Jemile Weeks double play ground ball for a 3-2 score.
Oklahoma City added two runs in the sixth inning against reliever Joe Bateman. Dopirak singled and scored on a Tommy Manzella triple for a 4-2 lead. Manzella next scored on an Anderson Hernandez double for a 5-2 score.
The River Cats added a seventh inning home run from Peterson for a 5-3 game before a Max Ramirez solo home run in the ninth inning for Oklahoma City ended the scoring at 6-3.
RedHawks RH Jordan Lyles will face River Cats RH Travis Banwart in game two of the series Friday at 9:05 p.m. CT. Live radio coverage is available on AM 1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com and through the IHeartRadio application on mobile devices.
Figueroa (1-0) allowed one hit and two walks over the first four innings, before giving up two runs in the fifth inning on a home run and a double play ground ball. The right-hander walked three in the game with four strikeouts in the winning decision. Graham Godfrey (4-1) took the loss after allowing three runs and four hits over three and two-thirds innings. Andy VanHekken (1) saved the game after loading the bases with no outs in the ninth before putting down the next three in order.
The RedHawks opened a 3-0 lead with single runs in the second, third and fourth inning. Max Ramirez reached second on an error and scored on a Brian Dopirak single for a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Brandon Barnes led off the third with a home run, his fifth with Oklahoma City, expanding the lead to 2-0. Dopirak blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning for a 3-0 score.
Sacramento added two runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to one run. Josh Donaldson led off with a home run for a 3-1 score. Jai Miller later walked, moved to third on a Shane Peterson single and scored on a Jemile Weeks double play ground ball for a 3-2 score.
Oklahoma City added two runs in the sixth inning against reliever Joe Bateman. Dopirak singled and scored on a Tommy Manzella triple for a 4-2 lead. Manzella next scored on an Anderson Hernandez double for a 5-2 score.
The River Cats added a seventh inning home run from Peterson for a 5-3 game before a Max Ramirez solo home run in the ninth inning for Oklahoma City ended the scoring at 6-3.
RedHawks RH Jordan Lyles will face River Cats RH Travis Banwart in game two of the series Friday at 9:05 p.m. CT. Live radio coverage is available on AM 1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com and through the IHeartRadio application on mobile devices.