Dean scores thrice, River Cats score all 9 runs with 2 outs to win series at Salt Lake

River Cats 9, Bees 2

Sacramento outfielder Austin Dean leads off first base against Albuquerque (7/17/22). (Ralph Thompson Photo)

By Maverick Pallack

August 14, 2022

Salt Lake City, Utah — Seven two-out RBI hits fueled the Sacramento River Cats (48-63) to a 9-2 series-winning victory at the Salt Lake Bees (53-58) on Sunday. Starting with a five-run second inning, Sacramento scored all nine runs with two outs. After three hits and two outs, second baseman

Salt Lake City, Utah — Seven two-out RBI hits fueled the Sacramento River Cats (48-63) to a 9-2 series-winning victory at the Salt Lake Bees (53-58) on Sunday.

Starting with a five-run second inning, Sacramento scored all nine runs with two outs.

After three hits and two outs, second baseman Isan Díaz plated the game’s first run in the second with a five-pitch walk.

Five pitches later, third baseman David Villar cleared the bases with a three-run double past center fielder Dillon Thomas’ reach. Left fielder Jason Vosler extended the lead with an RBI single to plate Villar.

One inning later, right fielder Austin Dean, who started the second-inning rally with a single, lined a triple and scored on catcher Jhonny Pereda’s RBI single.

Center fielder Bryce Johnson made it 7-0 in the fifth when he brought home first baseman Yermín Mercedes with a single.

The River Cats added two more two-out RBI hits in the seventh when Johnson knocked in designated hitter Ford Proctor before Pereda’s third hit brought Dean home for his third run.

Lefty Sam Long was solid on the mound for Sacramento, striking out one while allowing one hit and three walks over 3.2 shutout innings.

Righty Luis Ortiz (2-3) bridged the gap to the River Cats’ late-inning arms, striking out one in 1.1 scoreless innings.

The River Cats will have a quick turnaround, heading back to West Sacramento for a three-game series at Sutter Health Park vs the Oakland-affiliated Las Vegas Aviators beginning Monday. Righty Wei-Chieh Huang (0-2, 6.25) will try to continue his impressive form against righty Collin Wiles (8-8, 5.37) at 6:35 p.m. (PT). Listen to Johnny Doskow call the game online at rivercats.com or on the MiLB First Pitch app.

Additional Notes

Díaz had an impressive series in Salt Lake. The 26-year-old was 10-for-22 (.455) with eight runs, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBIs, and a 1.447 OPS in five games.
Right-hander Michael Stryffeler walked two and struck out three in a shutout sixth inning, giving him eight strikeouts in his 5.0 shutout innings for Sacramento.