Live From Sactown: River Cats v. Sidewinders

SACRAMENTO - On May 6, 2007, the Sacramento River Cats took on the Tucson Sidewinders at Raley Field in front of more than 12,000 fans. We have photos from the game, which the River Cats lost by a score of 3-1.

Before the game, lefty Dallas Braden threw warm-up tosses. Braden returned to Sacramento this week after two starts with Oakland. He pitched on Friday and allowed only one run in six innings. He walked four and struck out five. Braden is likely to be recalled to Oakland this weekend when the team next needs a fifth starter.

Starter Brad Knox was very effective for Sacramento on Sunday. In his second Triple-A start, Knox threw eight solid innings, a season-high total. He allowed three runs on eight hits. He didn't walk or strikeout a batter and was very efficient with his pitch count, as he only threw 97 pitches in those eight innings. He mixed his off-speed pitches well with his high-80s fastball.

River Cats' lead-off man Kevin Melillo began the game with a walk. He was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a Hiram Bocachica single with no-outs.

In between Melillo's walk and Bocachica's single, shortstop J.J. Furmaniak singled. He went 1-4 with a walk in the game.

Catcher Kurt Suzuki watches his opposite-field double in the second inning. Suzuki's double led-off the inning, but the River Cats were unable to bring him around to score.

Sidewinders' right-fielder Alexander Romero connects for a two-out RBI single in the third inning. All three of Tucson's runs came with two-outs.

Centerfielder Hiram Bocachica connects for a single to lead-off the third inning for Sacramento. He went 2-5 in the game.

Bocachica was caught attempting to steal second immediately after his third inning single.

That caught-steaing would hurt the River Cats, as Daric Barton followed Bocachica with a single of his own and Kurt Suzuki and Lou Merloni would both draw walks to load the bases.

The River Cats were unable to capitalize on the bases-loaded situation, as Jason Stokes and Antonio Perez both struck out to end the inning. The River Cats struck out 13 times on Sunday.

Tucson shortstop Brian Barden singles in the fourth inning. He went 3-4 on the day with three singles.

Barden steals second base, as J.J. Furmaniak leaps to catch the high throw in the fourth inning. Barden would be stranded at second.

Tucson starter Evan MacLane skirted early trouble and wound-up pitching six shut-out innings despite allowing six hits and four walks. He struck out six, most coming with runners in scoring position.

Tucson scored their final run of the game in the seventh inning when Danny Richar connected on this two-out RBI triple to right-center.

The Sidewinders were limited to only one run in the seventh thanks to some nifty defense by second baseman Kevin Melillo. With Richar on third and two-outs, Melillo ranged far to his right to snag Jeff Salazar's grounder up the middle and completed a leap throw to get the speedy Salazar by a step.

The River Cats finally got on the board in the eighth inning when Daric Barton lined a laser-shot homerun out to right-field. The homer was Barton's third of the season and second this week. It came off of lefty Randy Choate.

The side-armer Choate worked 1.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit and a walk. He struck out three.

Antonio Perez joined the River Cats' long list of walking wounded when he injured his right leg beating out an infield single in the eighth inning. He walked gingerly off the field and looked to be in considerable pain. If Perez lands on the DL, he will join Donnie Murphy, Brian Stavisky, Mike Mitchell, Brad Halsey and Jeremy Brown on the River Cats' DL list.

Nick Blasi was promoted from High-A Stockton on Sunday to give the River Cats some much-needed depth in the outfield. Blasi made his Triple-A debut by pinch-running for Perez in the eighth.

Jeff Gray pitched the ninth in relief of Knox and allowed a lead-off single in one shut-out inning. He struck out a batter. It was Gray's third appearance for the River Cats.

Jailen Peguero pitched the final 1.2 for Tucson to earn the save, his second of the year. He struck out four, walked one and allowed a hit.

All photos by Chris Lockard/Scout.com