CATS SLAM THEIR WAY TO VICTORY IN HOME OPENER
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The River Cats fell behind to the Bees early on Friday night, but a 6-3 deficit was quickly erased when Nate Freiman smashed a grand slam to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning giving Sacramento the 7-6 lead and eventual victory over Salt Lake in front of 12,412 fans at Raley Field's 15th Home Opener.
Sacramento first baseman Nate Freiman cleared the bases with an eventual game-winning grand slam, giving the River Cats a 7-6 victory. Freiman was 2-for-5 on the night with one run scored, a home run, and four RBI.
Salt Lake (4-5) got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by third baseman Tommy Field, scoring second baseman Taylor Lindsey from second base. The Bees would tack on two more in the second inning and take a 3-0 lead on a two-out two-RBI single by Grant Green with the bases loaded.
In his record-breaking 469th game in a River Cats uniform, outfielder Michael Taylor roped a double down the left-field line to lead off the second inning. Taylor scored on the next pitch when designated hitter Jake Goebbert hit a double of his own to put the Cats on the board. Goebbert would eventually score on a two-out single by Shane Peterson pulling the Cats to within one run. Taylor finished 1-for-4 with a run scored while Goebbert and Peterson each had two hits and an RBI.
River Cats starter Matt Buschmann (1-0, 7.00 ERA) struggled to get outs early in the game and was eventually pulled due to an apparent injury with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth inning. He was relieved by RHP Jose Flores who came in to face Green with an inherited full count and was able to get him to strike out swinging. Flores was also able to get Efren Navarro to strike out swinging to end the Bees' threat. Buschmann tossed 3 1/3 innings giving up seven hits, a walk, and four earned runs to go along with two strikeouts in a no-decision. Flores pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief striking out five Bees while only giving up one hit and a walk.
The River Cats (4-5) added a run in the bottom of the seventh and the Bees tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth to take a 6-3 lead.
A walk by Tyler Ladendorf, a single by Peterson, and a walk by Jose Martinez loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a Salt Lake pitching change and a fly out by Kent Matthes, Freiman came to bat and drove a 1-0 pitch deep over the left-field fence to put the Cats on top 7-6.
Fernando Nieve closed out the top of the ninth to earn his first save of the season. He struck out two Bees and induced Luis Jimenez into a foul pop-up to end the game. Joe Savery earned the win after tossing one inning of relief giving up two earned runs on three hits.
Bee's starter Wade LeBlanc (0-1, 7.00 ERA) took a no-decision after pitching five solid innings only allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out five.
Sacramento's opening homestand continues with Sutter Health Fireworks Saturday against Salt Lake, the second game of a four-game series. The River Cats send RHP Josh Lindblom (0-1, 12.46 ERA) to the mound to face Bees lefty Justin Thomas (1-0, 5.40 ERA) at Raley Field on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.
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River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2014 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). Single-game tickets can now be purchased at Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office or online at rivercats.com or ticketmaster.com. For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.
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