Home Runs Help River Cats To 9-3 Win

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Sacramento River Cats got home runs from two former Stockton Ports en route to a 9-3 win over Stockton in the second exhibition game between the Oakland A's affiliates at Banner Island Ballpark on Tuesday night.

Sacramento plated four runs in the second inning, highlighted by RBI doubles from Luke Montz and Scott More, as well as a two-run homer from former Port Josh Horton that gave the River Cats a 4-0 lead.

The River Cats increased their lead to 6-0 in the fifth when Michael Choice hit a two-run homer off Andres Avila.

River Cats starter Sonny Gray retired the first 16 batters he faced, striking out seven in that span. Gray went five full innings and retired 17 of the 18 batters he faced.

The Ports scored their first run in the sixth on an RBI single by Addison Russell off Travis Banwart.
Sacramento got the run back in the seventh on a solo home run off the bat of Shane Peterson.

Stockton plated two more runs in the seventh off River Cats reliever Hideki Okajima on an RBI double from Max Muncy and an RBI single from Wade Kirkland.

The Ports open the 2013 regular season on Thursday as they welcome the Bakersfield Blaze to Banner Island Ballpark for a four-game set. First pitch on Opening Night is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.