Jones' slam leads charge in River Cats win

The Sacramento River Cats (16-25) rode the long ball to an 8-5 victory over the Nashville Sounds (19-20) Saturday night. Both Austin Slater and Ryder Jones homered for the River Cats in the win.

Slater's two-run shot was his third home run of the season and put the River Cats ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning. Jones didn't wait long to add on, launching a towering grand slam out to the right field grass hill and making it a 6-1 game at the time. For Jones, it was his fourth home run of the year.
Roth put together his second consecutive quality start and picked up his first win as a starter with six innings of three-run ball. Behind him, the bullpen allowed two runs over three innings. Kyle Crick recorded the four-out save, his fourth save of the year.
Chris Stratton (0-1, 5.79) takes the mound for Sacramento tomorrow afternoon against Nashville's RHP Jharel Cotton (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. (PT) and the game can be heard live online at rivercats.com and on the air on ESPN 1320.
Postgame Notes
Jones: Ryder Jones went 1-for-5 tonight, but his lone hit was a grand slam home run…now has four home runs on the season, second most on the River Cats (Orlando Calixte, six)…the slam traveled 434 feet, the second furthest River Cats home run this year (Mac Williamson, 438).
Slater: Austin Slater went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and two runs scored…in the month of May, Slater is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with two home runs and 12 driven in.
Gillaspie: San Francisco Giants infielder Conor Gillapise made his second rehab start with Sacramento, playing seven innings at third base and going 1-for-4 at the plate…is 2-for-7 since joining the River Cats.
Hill: Aaron Hill made his first rehab start with the River Cats, playing six innings at second base…Hill was 1-for-2 at the plate and was hit by a pitch twice…is 5-for-14 (.357) with six runs scored in four rehab games (previous three with San Jose).
Crick: Kyle Crick recorded his team-leading fourth save of the year…entered with two on and two out in the 8^th…allowed one run (solo home run) and struck out four.  
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The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the three-time 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 2017 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.