River Cats lose tight ballgame to Bees

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA -- An eighth-inning run broke a 2-2 tie as the Sacramento River Cats (39-54) fell to the Salt Lake Bees (48-45) 3-2.
Right-hander Mike Connolly, who was making his fourth start with the River Cats, tossed nearly six innings and allowed just two runs. Tyler Rogers stranded the bases loaded to end the sixth with the score knotted up at two, but he would eventually give up the game-winning run on a Kaleb Cowart single with no one out in the eighth.
Infielder Jerry Sands recorded a hit for the third straight game since being promoted from Double-A Richmond. He's tallied five thus far including a double and two walks to go along with zero strikeouts.
Sunday afternoon's matinee will conclude this four-game set as right-hander Chris Stratton will be making his 2018 River Cats debut after starting 18 games with San Francisco. The Bees will counter with 22-year old righty Griffin Canning (0-2, 8.27). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. (PT). Catch all of the action live online at rivercats.com, on the MiLB First Pitch app, and on the air on Money 105.FM.
Additional Notes
• Centerfielder Peter Bourjos, making his River Cats debut, finished the night 1-for-4 with a walk and a run-scoring single.
• Tyler Rogers surrendered his first earned run since June 19, and just his third since May 9. He entered the day with the lowest ERA (1.59) in the Pacific Coast League among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched.
• The River Cats have scored four or fewer runs in five consecutive games, as well as 12 out of their last 15.