River Cats Report 05/13/14

After starting May off slowly, losing four of their first five games, the Sacramento River Cats have now won their last four, and five of their last six. Sacramento defeated the Albuquerque Isotopes 12-3 on May 9, to close out the four game series with a split on the road. Then the River Cats came home and have gotten themselves over the .500% hump (now, 20-18 on the season), by winning the first three of a four game series that concludes this afternoon, against the Salt Lake Bees.

Feb 22, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics infielder

poses for a portrait during photo day at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After leading Albuquerque right from the get-go of the first inning Friday, the River Cats would have to wait until the 11th on Saturday to gain their first lead. But that would be all they needed, as they walked off at Raley Field, winning 4-3. Sunday, the River Cats would play the same song, walking off against the Bees in the ninth, after clawing back from a 5-3 fifth inning deficit. Monday, however, the River Cats wouldn’t need extra inning – or a ninth inning– to get the W. They earned a 7-6 victory with all seven of their runs coming between the fifth and seventh innings.

During the streak, center fielder Shane Peterson has gone 5 for 13, with a home run, four RBI, five runs and seven walks. Peterson is now holding a triple-slash of .310/.417/.437 on the season. Aside from leading the team in BA, Peterson also leads in walks, with 25.

Hitting Performance of the Week: Nate Freiman went 2 for 4 with 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, and 1 BB on May 8 in a loss against Albuquerque.

On the pitching end, reliever Evan Scribner pitched two scoreless innings on Saturday and pitched one shutout inning on Monday to pick up his sixth save of the season. Fernando Nieve earned a late inning victory Sunday after also pitching two scoreless innings.

Pitching Performance of the Week: Starting pitcher Zach Neal with 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 6 Ks and a W over Albuquerque Friday.

Additionally, the Oakland A’s called up pitchers Fernando Rodriguez and Joe Savery from the River Cats. Catcher Stephen Vogt returned Sunday, after a month-long absence with an oblique strain. Vogt went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run. With rumors floating that the A’s could be looking to make a deal for a back-of-the-rotation pitcher, catcher John Jaso‘s name has been popping up, but Vogt’s health could be a concern, so keep an eye on him in the near future.

River Cats announced today, that pitcher Dan Straily, who was sent down from the Oakland A’s after a 1-2 record with a 4.93 ERA, has been activated. Straily will take the mound for Sacramento’s final game of the four game series against Salt Lake.