Cats Claw Back, Bite Giants 4-3 In Exhibition
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While big brother took the lead early, little brother got the last laugh with four unanswered runs as the Sacramento River Cats took down the San Francisco Giants by a final of 4-3 on Sunday night. The Giants (0-1), serving as the home team while visiting
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While big brother took the lead early, little brother got the last laugh with four unanswered runs as the Sacramento River Cats took down the San Francisco Giants by a final of 4-3 on Sunday night.
The Giants (0-1), serving as the home team while visiting Sutter Health Park, came out swinging in the contest and took the lead in the first set of at-bats. Heliot Ramos kicked off the action with a single and scored two batters later on a Jung Hoo Lee RBI. One batter plus two errors later and Lee also found his way across the plate for a 2-0 Giants lead.
An insurance tally was added in the home half of the second from a pair of 2024 River Cats, as Christian Koss doubled home Casey Schmitt with a ball into left center.
From that point forward it was all River Cats (1-0), who scored four unanswered runs from the fourth through the sixth to earn their second win over the Giants in as many years. Putting Sacramento on the board first was Logan Porter, who ripped his own double into left-center field that scored Hunter Bishop.
Sacramento’s three runs in the top of the sixth were the largest inning of the game, stringing together a trio of hits combined with a pair of walks to do the damage against Hayden Birdsong (0-1). Striking once more was Porter, as his second RBI of the night tied the game and pushed Bishop across the plate for his second run.
Playing the hero was Osleivis Basabe, driving in Porter for the go-ahead run with a base knock into center field for a lead the River Cats would not relinquish.
Sacramento’s offense had time to work thanks to the bullpen, as four Sacramento relievers combined to allow zero runs over 6.1 innings. Earning the win was Joey Luccchesi (1-0), who worked a perfect 1.2 innings and recorded five outs while facing only four batters.
Lucchesi’s effort came on the heels of scoreless efforts from Raymond Burgos and Tristan Beck, as the pair combined on 1.2 innings (1.1 for Beck) and allowed two hits and two walks (all by Beck). Mason Black (S, 1) claimed the save after working the final nine outs in relief, allowing three hits and two walks with a trio of punchouts.
Four of Sacramento’s six hits came from the bats of Bishop and Porter, who also combined for three of Sacramento’s four runs. Also picking up an RBI each were Jake Lamb and Basabe, while Sergio Alcántara was 1-for-4 from the nine-spot in the lineup.
San Francisco plays their final two tune-up games of the Spring on Monday and Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park, while Sacramento starts the season on Friday, March 28 at Sutter Health Park against the Albuquerque Isotopes.
Hoss and Trashman: Family Bonded by Baseball
Around the world, it is estimated that over two million children play little league, many with the idea to one day become a Major League Baseball player. A fraction of that number moves onto high school ball, and even less grace a professional baseball field of any level, let alone
Cats Ride Three Straight Multi-Run Frames to Victory
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Trailing by a run as the game moved into the middle frames, the Sacramento River Cats unleashed three straight multi-run frames that powered Sacramento to an 8-1 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas on Saturday. Two pitches into the game and the Chihuahuas (28-28) snatched the
Sacramento Stops Slide with Close 5-3 Victory Over El Paso
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For a second straight game the Sacramento River Cats took a lead with a three-run frame, this time dropping a trio of runs in the fourth and making the lead last over the final four frames for a 5-3 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas on
Johnson Blast Gives Sacramento Early Lead They Cannot Hold
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A no-doubt three-run homer from Daniel Johnson put the Sacramento River Cats out in front of the El Paso Chihuahuas early in game three of their series, but an El Paso grand slam shifted the momentum and gave Sacramento an 8-5 defeat on Thursday. The Chihuahuas
Lamb RBI Single Lone Tally for Cats in 3-1 Loss to Chihuahuas
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Jake Lamb knock in the bottom of the seventh scored Daniel Johnson and knotted the contest at 1-1 between the Sacramento River Cats and El Paso Chihuahuas, but a pair of run in the top of the ninth meant a 3-1 defeat for Sacramento on
Three Runs in Ninth Not Enough for Sacramento Against El Paso
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fighting until the final out and trailing by seven runs, the Sacramento River Cats plated one in the seventh and three in the home half of the ninth but still came up short against the El Paso Chihuahuas on Tuesday, 9-5. After a pair of Chihuahuas
Fifth Inning the Undoing of Cats on Sunday Against Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Three straight run-scoring innings were not enough for the Sacramento River Cats to counter a seven-run fifth by the Oklahoma City Comets, giving Sacramento a 9-6 defeat in the series finale on Sunday. Both teams went quietly in the first before the River Cats (25-26) notched
Cats Cruise Behind Whisenhunt and Two Luciano Blasts
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Sacramento River Cats offense continued its breakout and piled on 11 runs in their Saturday contest with the Oklahoma City Comets, four of which came from the bat of Marco Luciano as his two homers and four RBI spurred Sacramento to an 11-4 victory. Six
Lamb Slam Leads River Cats to Victory over Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A first inning grand slam set the tone for the Sacramento River Cats, who rode that momentum and outlasted the Oklahoma City Comets for an 8-6 win on Friday night. A pair of walks opened the game for the River Cats (24-25) while the bases were
Knizner Debuts with Five RBI, Cats Win Third Straight
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Scoring early and often was the key to success in a second straight game for the Sacramento River Cats, plating seven runs by through the top of the third inning en route to an 8-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets on Wednesday. It was an
Sacramento Starts Series with Secure 11-5 Victory
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Continuing the momentum from their Sunday victory, the Sacramento River Cats scored early and rode solid pitching to an 11-5 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets in their series opener on Tuesday. Both teams went quietly in the first, but the River Cats (22-24) exploded in
Whisenhunt Dominates Bees, Earns PCL Pitcher of the Week Honor
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A pair of strong outings in which he punched out a combined 14 batters while not allowing an earned run has earned left-hander Carson Whisenhunt his second Pacific Coast League weekly honor of the season, as he was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week for
Cats Close Series with Dominant 7-1 Win Over Bees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Another Carson Whisenhunt start, another Whisenhunt gem as the southpaw breezed through seven strong frames while Max Stassi provided a bang in his return from the injured list to power the Sacramento River Cats to a 7-1 win over the Salt Lake Bees. After missing 19
Johnson’s Blast Lone Tally in Cats’ 6-1 Loss
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats trailed in Saturday night’s contest the entire way after a Salt Lake Bees homer to start the game, mustering only one run in a 6-1 loss at Sutter Health Park. A solo blast from Daniel Johnson in the third inning represented the
Cats Avoid Shutout but Fall 9-2 to Bees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two runs in the final at-bats of the game helped the Sacramento River Cats avoid a second consecutive shutout at the hands of the Salt Lake Bees, but still the offense was too little, too late with Salt Lake capturing game four of the series by
Sacramento Shut Out by Salt Lake on Thursday
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five hits were all the Sacramento River Cats could muster in game three of their series with the Salt Lake Bees on Thursday, none of which could produce a run as Salt Lake snagged a 6-0 victory over Sacramento at Sutter Health Park. River Cats (20-22)
Cats Capitalize in Seventh, Snag 6-2 Win over Bees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While the Salt Lake Bees wiped away an early lead by the Sacramento River Cats, the Cats scored three in the seventh and one in the eight as they swiped game two of the series with Salt Lake by a 5-3 final. For the sixth straight
Four-Run First Sets Sacramento on Route to Victory, 5-3
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A four-run first inning and a dominant start from southpaw Carson Whisenhunt were the recipe for success for the Sacramento River Cats on Tuesday, as they topped the Salt Lake Bees in their series opener by a 5-3 final. The River Cats (19-21) were ready to
Sacramento Lead Slips Late Against Tacoma, Cats Drop Series
TACOMA, Wash. – Aiming to avoid a series loss, the Sacramento River Cats reached the scoreboard first and enjoyed a comfortable lead for most of the game, but the Tacoma Rainiers staged a late comeback to steal the series finale on Sunday, 12-7. For a second straight game it was
Luciano Slam Lifts Sacramento Over Tacoma, 7-5
TACOMA, Wash. – Marco Luciano delivered one of the most clutch hits of the young season for the Sacramento River Cats, unloading the bases with one swing that lifted Sacramento to a 7-5 win over the Tacoma Rainiers in game five of their set. An early 3-0 River Cats (18-20)
Cats Shutout by Rainiers on Wednesday, 3-0
TACOMA, Wash. – Despite pounding out six hits, the Sacramento River Cats were shutout for the second time this season as the Tacoma Rainiers tallied a trio of runs for a 3-0 victory in game two of their series on Wednesday. River Cats (17-18) starter Carson Whisenhunt (2-3) worked around
Four Extra-Base Hits in Sixth Pushes Sacramento to Victory
TACOMA, Wash. – A three-run sixth inning by the Sacramento River Cats broke open a 1-1 tie on Tuesday, using four extra-base hits in the frame to eventually take down the Tacoma Rainiers by a 4-2 final. Jumping out in front first was the Rainiers (11-23), as they turned a
Sacramento Laughs Last in Extras Against Reno
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Grant McCray was the hero on Sunday, as his RBI single down the right-field line in the 10th inning helped the Sacramento River Cats end their fastest extra-innings game since at least 2005 with a 3-2 victory over the Reno Aces. Stepping to the plate hitless
Late Tally Not Enough for Sacramento as Reno Snags Game Five
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A night after logging only two hits and still escaping victorious, the offense remained slow for the Sacramento River Cats on Saturday as the Reno Aces were powered by a four-run third inning that eventually led to a 5-1 win in game five of the series.
Three-Run Johnson Triple Just Enough on Friday for Cats
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A three-run triple from the newest River Cat was all the scoring they needed in Friday’s contest with the Reno Aces, and though things got tight down the stretch, Sacramento kept a hold on a 3-2 victory over Reno. In the second frame the River Cats