Sacramento RiverCats Defeat New Orleans Zephyrs 5-3
The American Conference Champion New Orleans Zephyrs fell to the visiting Pacific Conference Champion Sacramento RiverCats on Tuesday by a score of 5-3 in Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series.
Center fielder Nick Blasi led Sacramento offensively, going 3-4 with an RBI in the game. Blasi also scored three runs.
Designated hitter Jorge Piedra went 1-4 with two RBI. Catcher Jeremy Brown and first baseman Brant Colamarino both drove in a run each.
Shane Komine (1-0) gets the win in his start for the RiverCats. Komine went six innings and gave up two runs on four hits. Closer Brad Ziegler got the save after retiring the side in the ninth inning to secure the Sacramento victory.
The offensive leader for New Orleans was second baseman David Newhan, who kept the Zephyrs in the game throughout by blasting two solo homers over the right field fence. Newhan finished 3-4 and had a single in addition to the two home runs.
Reliever Ryan Cullen (0-1) gets the loss for New Orleans after giving up one run on one hit, though the run was unearned.
The victory gets the RiverCats off to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Championship series. The teams will play one more in New Orleans before picking up again Friday with the final three games in Sacramento. Game 2 on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.