River Cats take series from Grizzlies with 10-7 victory

Originally published on SacramentoPress.com on June 4, 2012


The Sacramento River Cats overcame adversity to defeat the Fresno Grizzlies 10-7 on Friday night at Raley Field.

The 10,501 fans in attendance witnessed an offensive outburst that lasted nearly three hours and forty minutes. Fans were able to see a plethora of pitchers, with 11 pitchers seeing the mound throughout the game.

Designated hitter Manny Ramirez was once again a last-minute scratch, being given the day off as a medical precaution for the tightness in his calf that kept him out of Thursday’s game as well.

Adding to the adversity, starting pitcher Bruce Billings faced just two batters, giving up two singles before having to leave the game due to cramping in his left hamstring.

Ramirez’s replacement, Brandon Moss, turned out to be the offensive key to the River Cats’ victory. Moss went 2-5 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning.

Down 3-5, the River Cats opened up the game with a six-run fourth inning that gave them a 9-5 lead. The River Cats sent 12 batters up to the plate in the inning and capitalized on Moss’ 3-run bomb to deep center field.

The Grizzlies weren’t going to go down easy, as catcher Jackson Williams hit his fourth home run of the season to score Brock Bond and bring the Grizzlies to within two and the score to 9-7 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

River Cats lead-off man Grant Green was able to give the Cats an insurance run in the very next half inning, hitting his sixth home run of the season and extending the Cats’ lead to 10-7.

Cats pitchers would then keep the Grizzlies off of the scoreboard, with Evan Scribner locking up the save and securing the River Cats 10-7 lead.

Two of the six pitchers used by the Grizzlies attended college right here in Sacramento. Grizzlies starting pitcher Jason Stevenson was born in Redding, Calif. but attended Sacramento City College. Stevenson pitched just two innings, allowed two hits and three earned runs, struck out one and struggled with his command while walking four.

Grizzlies relief pitcher Mitch Lively is also a local product, having attended California State University, Sacramento. Lively pitched 1 and two-thirds innings, giving up two hits, four unearned runs and striking out four batters.

The win gave the series win to the River Cats and also improved the River Cats to 35-21 on the season, just 1.5 games out of first place of the Pacific Coast League, Southern Division.