Chance to Meet Webber in Pregame Meet & Greet Session Starting at 5:15 p.m.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats are excited to announce that Sacramento Kings legend Chris Webber will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday, April 13 as he returns to Sacramento to promote his memoir, “By God’s Grace.”
Ahead of Sacramento’s 6:37 p.m. contest, which will be broadcast on KMAX 31, Webber will take part in a special Meet & Greet session inside the Sactown Smokehouse. The session will last from 5:15-6 p.m. and is open to all fans who purchase a copy of his book. “By God’s Grace” will be available for purchase at the meet & greet session.
“My time in Sacramento holds a very special place in my heart,” said Sacramento Kings Legend Chris Webber. “I am excited to connect with the fans and share my story with them.”
Single game tickets to Saturday’s contest against the El Paso Chihuahuas are available by visiting rivercats.com/promotions. Other ticket inquiries can be directed to the ticket team by calling (916) 371-HITS (4487), or by emailing tickets@rivercats.com.
ARLINGTON — Before Tuesday’s game at Globe Life Field was an impromptu college reunion, with three former Baylor University baseball teammates taking pictures together in their big league uniforms. On the field — roughly 100 miles north of their alma mater — were A’s catcher Shea Langeliers, Rangers pitcher Cody Bradford and Rangers third baseman Davis Wendzel, who would make his Major League debut hours later.
Among the three, there was no doubting who the big man on campus was, at least on this night. Langeliers homered three times and drove in all four of the Athletics’ runs in their 4-3 victory over the Rangers.
All three of Langeliers’ dingers were tape-measure shots at critical moments in the game. The first, a Statcast-projected 404 feet into the left-field seats, tied the game in the second inning. Langeliers’ second solo shot cleared the fence in front of the center-field batter’s eye, 427 feet from the plate. And his ninth-inning, two-run blast off Rangers closer José Leclerc sailed into the Oakland bullpen, 405 feet from home.
“It always feels good to get something like that, when you’re seeing the ball that good,” Langeliers said. “It’s one of those nights — I was seeing the ball really well, putting good swings on pitches in the zone, guys [were] grinding out at-bats and luckily, I came through for the team tonight.”
With his first career three-homer game, Langeliers propelled the A’s to their first three-game winning streak of 2024. During its 2023 campaign, Oakland didn’t win three consecutive games until June.
Langeliers became the second player in Athletics franchise history to hit three homers as the starting catcher, joining Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane (May 21, 1925, at St. Louis Browns). Langeliers continues to improve at the plate; last year, his first as Oakland’s everyday catcher, he got better as the year went on, with an OPS of .752 in the second half following a .633 mark in the first half.
“He grinded through a year where he really worked hard at the defensive side but also finished up his offensive side pretty well in September,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “For him to start April out the way he has, it’s a really good sign.”
Field View: Shea Langeliers’ third homer vs. Rangers
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In a battle of Opening Day starting pitchers Tuesday, Oakland’s Alex Wood stood toe to toe with Rangers ace Nathan Eovaldi until Wood’s calf cramps led to his early departure from the game. Wood was generally effective, allowing two runs in four innings, but after he recorded the first out of the fourth, A’s athletic trainers and coaches jogged out to speak with him and Wood threw a few warmup tosses to determine if he could continue. He did, but only for two more batters, as Mitch Spence relieved him to start the fifth.
“I felt it [on] my second-to-last hitter, probably like my last seven pitches, every time I went to push off the rubber, it kept grabbing,” Wood said of the cramp.
Other than Langeliers, few in the Athletics’ lineup had much to offer offensively. Oakland hitters struck out 13 times against Eovaldi and three Rangers relievers, and the A’s mustered only five hits total. But relievers Spence and Michael Kelly kept the Athletics close and rookie fireballer Mason Miller earned his first career save with a scoreless ninth.
Mason Miller seals the win with his first career save
Miller didn’t have any sense he was headed in to try and slam the door shut on a win until Langeliers’ game-winning homer zeroed in on the A’s bullpen.
“I’m proud of it, for sure,” Miller said of the save. “We’ve been waiting for a save opportunity to come through. It took a little bit — but going out there tonight, getting ready quick, obviously Shea coming up huge … I didn’t have a lot of time to think. So it was good.
“We were joking down there [in the bullpen], ‘Just get Shea up one more time.’ And we did, so coming into a moment like that was exciting, and I was glad to come through for the guys.”
RENO, Nev. – The Sacramento River Cats and the Reno Aces traded shots in the middle innings of the series finale of their six-game set, but it was Reno that had the last laugh to split the series as they secured a 6-4 victory on Sunday.
Luciano’s RBI Double in the 3rd inning
For a second straight game the River Cats (5-4) scored first but were unable to keep the lead, breaking the scoreless tie in the third with a two-out RBI double from Marco Luciano that scored Donovan Walton, who had reached with a walk. The Aces (5-3) answered with their swings in the bottom half in a similar fashion as a leadoff walk came around to score on an RBI single from Pavin Smith.
Ramos’ Single in the 4thBrett Wisely’s RBI Single in the 4th inning
To start the fourth the River Cats pulled back in front thanks to Brett Wisely, as he singled into left center that scored Heliot Ramos from second who had reached with a single of his own before advancing on a walk to Casey Schmitt.
It took an inning for the Aces to respond, but they did so with a trio of runs in the home half of the fifth on the strength of doubles from Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Garlick and a pair of free passes.
Yusniel Diaz’s RBI Single in the 6th
Trailing by two, Sacramento found a way to knot the game once again in the away half of the sixth with a rally started when Jakson Reetz was hit by a pitch and Wisely was issued a walk. Reetz did not wait long as he immediately came around to score on an RBI single to left center by Yusniel Diaz, while Wisley scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Walton.
Walton’s Sacrifice Fly brings Wisely into score
The lead only lasted a half inning, as Reno responded with two of their own in the bottom of the sixth that was kicked off by a Sacramento error. Consecutive singles from Jancarlos Cintron, Barrosa and Almora Jr. resulted in both of the runs, and the inning was kept from getting worse when Barrosa was thrown out at third and gave Sacramento a way out of the frame.
Down but not out, the River Cats loaded the bases back-to-back walks to Heliot Ramos and Schmitt, finally filling when Reetz was hit by a pitch for a second time. Despite having the opportunity to take the lead, one of the year’s most clutch hitters Wisely was unable to capitalize and left them loaded.
After taking over for starter Spencer Howard, who allowed two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts, RJ Dabovich (0-1) was charged with the loss as he was tagged for four runs (three earned) in his only frame of work.
Keeping the River Cats in the game down the stretch was the trio of Justin Garza, Randy Rodriguez and Cody Stashak, who each combined on 2.0 scoreless innings with only two hits allowed.
Picking up the win for Reno was Blake Walston (1-0), who entered after the recently signed Joran Montgomery who was still ramping up for the Diamondbacks’ regular season. Walston went 2.2 innings and two earned runs on only one hit with four walks and two strikeouts. Down the stretch, Francisco Morales earned a hold with a clean 1.1. innings while Justin Martinez collected his second save of the campaign with a perfect ninth.
All four Sacramento hits came from different bats, with the trio of Luciano (1-for-5, double), Wisely (1-for-3, run) and Diaz (1-for-3) responsible for most and an RBI each.
Having completed their first six-game series with a split, the River Cats will now return home for their first six-game set at Sutter Health Park beginning on Tuesday against the El Paso Chihuahuas with first pitch at 6:45 p.m.
RENO, Nev. – The Sacramento River Cats did their best to keep up with the bats of the Reno Aces on Saturday, but six unanswered runs in the second through the fourth innings sent Reno on their way to a victory over Sacramento by a score of 12-5.
Brett Wisely’s double inthe 6th inning
Tonight marked the first loss for the River Cats (5-3) when they reached the scoreboard first, as Sacramento managed the opening tally with their first set of swing when David Vilar drove a ball into the right-center gap for a double that scored Marco Luciano, who had reached with a walk.
After getting through the first quickly included a pair of strikeouts, starter Mason Black (0-1) wasn’t as lucky in the next few innings as the Aces (4-3) drew level on a solo home run from Adrian Del Castillo on the first pitch of his at-bat in the second.
An inning later and Reno took the lead on an RBI double from Jorge Barrosa before making it a multi-run frame when they traded two outs for a run on an unusual 5-6-3 double play. A three-spot in the fourth further built an advantage, with RBI singles from Tim Tawa, Barrosa and Albert Almora Jr.
Sacramento pulled back within shouting distance after plating a run in each the fifth and sixth, starting when Brett Wisely’s double allowed him to advance to third on a single into shallow right by Ismael Munguia and then crossed home on a throwing error from Tawa. The inning was poised to be bigger, but an unfortunate double play on a hard liner from Trenton Brooks helped bring an end to the inning without more damage.
Following in the sixth, a second Wisely double in the contest pushed Blake Sabol from first to third where he scored on another Reno error. Again, there was a chance for more runs in the inning, but on the same play that Sabol scored, Wisely was cut down at the plate to end the frame.
The gap widened after a five-run sixth inning, with many of the same names striking again including run-scoring knocks from Jancarolos Cintron and Almora Jr., with the inning finally capped off by a home run from Kyle Garlick.
Trying to rally late, the River Cats added two final runs in the top of the eighth. Singles by Casey Schmitt and Wisely resulted in runs, as Schmitt was the first to do so when he crossed the plate on a double from Luis Matos into left center. Soon after, Wisely was crossed for a second time on a single into right field by Luciano.
Black was tagged for six runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings, though due to a pair of errors only three of the runs were earned. Only Tanner Andrews tossed a scoreless outing, working a clean eighth while striking out one.
Taking the win for Reno was Konnor Pilkington (1-0), his first of the season as he allowed just one run on two hits in 2.0 innings, though he also walked three.
Collecting another pair of doubles was Wisely, his fourth of the season with all coming in the past four games, ending the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Also adding a multi-hit game was Munguia as he closed out 2-for-5, while the trio of Matos, Luciano and Villar all tallied on hit and an RBI.
Tomorrow’s game determines whether it will end as a series split or a second consecutive series win for the River Cats, with the series finale first pitch on Sunday set for 1:05 p.m.
RENO, Nev. – All good things must come to an end, and so did the unblemished road record for the Sacramento River Cats as they were handed a 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Reno Aces in game four of their series on Friday.
Whisenhunt gets the strikeout in the 2nd inning.
The Aces (3-3) took the advantage early with their swings in the first by getting to River Cats (5-2) starter Carson Whisenhunt (0-1) for a pair of runs on the strength of four singles, with the latter two RBI singles from Tristin English and Alber Almora Jr. that came with two outs in the frame.
Two innings later Reno added onto its lead, doing so with one swing of the bat thanks to Kevin Newman who hit the first pitch of the third over the wall in right to make it 3-0. Continuing the offense, the Aces tacked on three more in the fourth after an error at shortstop in front of a Jancarlos Cintron single set the stage for a three-run homer by Jorge Barrosa to left center.
After a final strikeout, Whisenhunt exited the contest in favor of right-hander Daulton Jefferies, who kept the Aces off the board for most of his 4.1 innings except for the sixth. Consecutive singles to open the frame put a pair on, allowing Barrosa and Jose Herrera to each collect an RBI with their own base knocks. Later in the inning, the final run of the frame on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Garlick.
Walton’s Single in the 3rd inning
Sacramento prevented the shutout with a run in the top of the seventh, scoring once on a double play ball by last night’s winning pitcher, Donovan Walton. The inning was poised to be much larger than just a single run, with Blake Sabol drawing a walk to lead off while Yusniel Diaz followed immediately with a single. Another walk, this time to Ismael Munguia, loaded the bases, until Walton’s double play traded one run for two outs leaving a final line out by Luis Matos to end the inning.
Whisenhunt was charged with the loss after allowing the first runs of his Triple-A career, yielding six (five earned) on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. Jefferies went the rest of the 4.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits with two walks and four punchouts.
On the other side, Reno starter Cristian Mesa (2-0) made it into the seventh inning. He eventually left after 6.0+ innings while allowing just the one run on five hits, though he walked three and struck out only two.
Luciano Single in the 8th inning
Pacing Sacramento at the plate was Marco Luciano, who was 3-for-4 on the night which included a single that came off the bat at 106.0 mph in the top of the first. Each game that Luciano has tallied a hit has been a multi-hit effort, as he now has four multi-hit games including a pair of contests with three base knocks. Also collecting hits were Matos (1-for-4, double), Diaz (1-for-3), and Walton (1-for-3).
Mattos Double in the 5th inning
Both teams will return to the field of Greater Nevada Field for game five of this series on Saturday, with first pitch at 4:05 p.m.
Reetz Homers Twice While Walton Earns First Career Pitching Victory
By : Jake Ward (River Cats Media Relations)
Reetz’s first homer in the 2nd inning.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Tuesday’s series opener between the Sacramento River Cats and the Reno Aces had a little bit of everything including scoring in eight innings, a pair of two-homer games, and even a position player earning the victory on the mound as Sacramento was able to hold on for a wild 9-8 victory in 12 innings.
Brett Wisely triples in the 2nd inning.
The scoring was hot and heavy early on a beautiful day in Reno, Nev., and the River Cats (3-1) wasted little time as they dropped two runs in each of the second and third innings. A leadoff triple in the second from Brett Wisely put him just 90 feet away from scoring the game’s first run, which he did mere moments later on a wild pitch from Aces (2-1) starter Blake Walston. Two batters later, Jakson Reetz crushed his first dinger of the season that traveled an eye-popping 456 feet over the scoreboard in left center to make it 2-0.
Ramos homers in the 3rd inning.
While the Aces got one back on a Jose Herrera single to left in the home half of the second, Heliot Ramos started the third with a bang by crushing his second homer in as many games with a deep blast to left center. A bases loaded walk later in the inning pushed the score to 4-1. For Ramos, he is the first River Cat to homer in consecutive games in 2024.
That lead was not meant to last when Kyle Garlick stepped to the plate for Reno, as he grooved a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right field for a three-run homer that instantly tied the game with just one out in the third. Reno then took the lead with a run in each the fourth and fifth, as Tim Tawa doubled and scored the go-ahead run followed by the second Garlick homer of the afternoon on an 0-2 pitch to lead off the home half of the fourth.
Reetz two-run homer in the 8th inning.
Sacramento’s offense went dormant until the eighth, coming to life when Reetz matched Garlick with his second home run of the day, this a ball that just cleared the wall in left center and tied the score once more at 6-6. In 2023 there were 10 River Cats who had two-homer games, which included a pair from Jakson Reetz. He was also the last to do it in 2023, coming on July 30 at Albuquerque.
From that point forward it seemed as if there might not be a winner in the game, as each time the River Cats would jump in front, Reno was there to answer. In the ninth, singles from Casey Schmitt and Chase Pinder set the table for a Wisely double down the left-field line, though it scored only Schmitt on the play.
Through eight innings River Cats pitchers had not issued a walk, but that changed in the ninth as they walked the bases loaded while the second of two balks in the frame ended up forcing home the tying run.
Villar’s RBI single in the 10th.
Back at it in the 10th, David Villar came through in the clutch when he sent a ball through the hole at second base which scored Ismael Munguia, who began the frame on second as the free runner.
Stashak Gloves the line drive comeback shot.
Entering to pitch was right-hander Cody Stashak, who was able to get two relatively quick outs with runners at the corners, the second of which was a comeback-liner that would have connected with Stashak had he not displayed incredible reflexes to get his glove up for the second out. Despite that play, he would walk in the tying run that forced game into the 11th, which was the only of the three extra innings to not feature any scoring.
Part of the reason for no scoring in the 11th was infielder Donovan Walton (1-0), who entered for his first minor league pitching appearance in his career (one major league pitching appearance for San Francisco on June 3, 2022 at Miami) as Sacramento tried not to burn their bullpen arms in the first game of the series. Walton was effective, as he earned a trio of fly balls that left the free runner stranded on base.
Stepping to the plate and proving to be the hero once again was Reetz, though this time all he needed was a double down the left-field line to easily score Trenton Brooks as the free runner and give Sacramento the 9-8 advantage.
Out for the bottom of the 12th again was Walton, putting the cap on Sacramento’s first 12-inning game since they also went 12 innings against Sugar Land on April 8, 2022 in a 7-6 victory. However, Walton needed some help as there were not one, but two outfield assists on plays at the plate that prevented the tying run from scoring.
Pinder’s assist in the 12th .
First, a Herrera single with only one out looked as if it could score free runner Tristin English from second base, but his hesitation while rounding third provided just enough time for Reetz to collect the relay throw that was started by Pinder and dive back across home plate to tag out English. In the very next at-bat, Tawa sent a double into the left-center gap that seemed as if it also might tie the game. However, Munguia was able to get to it quickly and connected on a relay with Marco Luciano that had the ball to the plate with feet to spare, ultimately sealing the 9-8 win for the River Cats.
Those final two plays earned Walton his first pitching victory of his professional career, though it would not have been possible without three combined scoreless innings from Randy Rodriguez (one inning with one strikeout) and Juan Sanchez (two innings with three strikeouts), as neither allowed a base runner.
Charged with the loss for Reno was Chris Rodriguez (0-1), who was able to stay clean in the 11th but gave up the one unearned run in the top of the 12th.
At the dish, every River Cat to have an official at-bat reached base, and they were led by the 3-for-4 effort from Wisely who also scored once, tallied two doubles and a triple, and drove in a pair. He would not be outshined by Reetz, who clobbered two dingers in a 3-for-5 day to go with four RBI and a double. Also picking up multi-hit games was the pair of Luciano (2-for-5, run scored, two walks) and Villar (2-for-6, double, RBI).
Each of the first four games of the 2024 season have been decided by one run, which had not happened in a single season for Sacramento since 2017 when each contest from July 24-27 was separated by just one tally. That happened twice in 2017, with the first such instance occurring from May 6-9. Dating back to the final two games of 2023, each of the past six River Cats contests have been one-run games.
Just two minutes shy of the four-hour mark was when the game came to a close, the longest game time for the River Cats since they went four hours and 34 minutes against Sugar Land in that 12-inning marathon on April 8, 2022.
Both teams will be back in action with another afternoon matinee on Wednesday, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. from Greater Nevada Field.
LOS ANGELES — Michael Conforto was one of the San Francisco Giants‘ biggest free-agent additions last season, but he’s flown more under the radar following the arrival of several newcomers like Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler this year.
Despite the lack of fanfare, Conforto has quickly emerged as one of the club’s hottest hitters to start the year.
Conforto continued his early-season power surge by crushing his team-high third home run in five games, but it wasn’t enough in an 8-3 loss to the Dodgers in Monday night’s series opener at Dodger Stadium.
The Giants were held scoreless by left-hander James Paxton through the first five innings before Conforto put them on the board with a towering solo shot off reliever Ryan Brasier in the top of the sixth. Conforto fell behind 0-2, took a ball and fouled off two straight sliders before yanking the next one just inside the right-field foul pole for a 384-foot blast that cut the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1.
“I caught it pretty flush and there was pretty good spin on it, so not much hook,” Conforto said. “It was the third straight slider, so my third chance on it. I put a pretty good swing on it and kept it fair.”
Conforto’s homer provided a brief spark, but the Giants couldn’t cash in on multiple scoring opportunities, finishing 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 on base. San Francisco’s bullpen couldn’t keep it close after that, as Teoscar Hernández broke the game open with a three-run homer off submariner Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the sixth.
The Dodgers also tacked on a pair of insurance runs against right-hander Nick Avila, who gave up RBI knocks to Mookie Betts and Will Smith after coming in to make his Major League debut in the seventh.
San Francisco’s bullpen has now allowed 20 runs over 18 innings, resulting in a Major League-high 10.00 ERA over the first five games of the season. Every reliever aside from Landen Roupp has given up at least one run thus far, though the group is light on experience after introducing four rookies — Avila, Roupp, Erik Miller and Kai-Wei Teng — into the mix early this year.
“We can be better,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We also have some guys coming, and that’s going to be key for us. Whether it’s Blake [Snell], whether it’s Alex [Cobb]. Certainly Robbie Ray down the road. Closing games out is going to be key for us.”
The latest late-inning stumble overshadowed a solid season debut for rookie right-hander Keaton Winn, who gave up three runs over five innings in his 10th career Major League appearance (his sixth start). Winn struck out six and walked one while leaning on his trademark splitter, which he threw 42% of the time and used to induce seven of his 14 whiffs. He also topped out at 98.2 mph with his fastball and mixed in 20 sliders, one shy of his entire total from the 2023 campaign.
Winn missed time with mild right elbow inflammation at the beginning of Spring Training, but he managed to recover in time to earn a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster. He drew a tough assignment in his first appearance of the season, as he was tasked with taking on a Dodgers lineup that features perhaps the most vaunted top of the order in the Majors in Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freeman. The trio didn’t disappoint on Monday, combining to go 6-for-11 with three RBIs and six runs scored.
“That’s a lot of high-powered guys, for sure,” Winn said. “You’ve really got to focus up and make pitches, especially the first five guys.”
While the Giants’ lineup couldn’t break through against Paxton on Monday, Conforto’s hot start bodes well for their ability to put together better offensive showings in the future. The 31-year-old left fielder underwhelmed at the plate last season after missing the entire 2022 campaign due to right shoulder surgery, but he already looks like he’s in a better offensive rhythm after going through a rehab-free Spring Training this year.
“It’s a good start,” Conforto said. “There’s a lot of good things. There’s still some at-bats that I feel like I’m missing some pitches and could get some things going and get on base a little bit more. But overall, it’s nice to see the ball leave the ballpark. I’m just going to keep working and trying to put together great at-bats and help the team win.”
Conforto didn’t get a chance to start against many lefties toward the end of last season, but he’s already homered off one southpaw — Padres reliever Tom Cosgrove — and should have an opportunity to reestablish himself as an everyday player if he can sustain this level of productivity moving forward.
“It’s been great,” Melvin said. “He’s been in there basically every day. He had a big homer off a lefty, too. We talked about the year after you have that surgery. He looks like he’s playing really well and playing with a lot of confidence.”
Maria Guardado covers the Giants for MLB.com. She previously covered the Angels from 2017-18.
SAN DIEGO — Jordan Hicks waited two years for the chance to resurrect his long-held dream of being a Major League starter. If his season debut was any indication, he might not be leaving the Giants’ rotation anytime soon.
Hicks matched his career high by delivering five shutout innings in his first big league start since July 12, 2022, and Jung Hoo Lee and Michael Conforto launched eighth-inning homers to power the Giants to a 9-6 win over the Padres on Saturday night at Petco Park.
Hicks allowed only three hits while striking out six and walking one in the 81-pitch effort, extending an impressive run from San Francisco’s starting rotation, which has given up only four runs over 17 innings (2.12 ERA) over the first three games of the 2024 campaign.
“I feel like I probably could have gone another one, but knowing I only threw 72 [pitches] last outing and knowing more crowd today, a little bit more energy, more amped up, I don’t want to force anything,” Hicks said. “I felt like we were in a good position to let the bullpen come in and work. I expect, if I’m at the same pitch count, to be going back out in the next outing and future outings as well.”
The Giants’ offense mustered only two hits against new Padres right-hander Dylan Cease, including an RBI double by Tom Murphy, but they broke the game open by erupting for six runs off lefty Tom Cosgrove in the top of the eighth.
The Giants’ offense mustered only two hits against new Padres right-hander Dylan Cease, including an RBI double by Tom Murphy, but they broke the game open by erupting for six runs off lefty Tom Cosgrove in the top of the eighth.
Lee kicked off the big inning by blasting his first career Major League home run, a solo shot that left his bat at 104.4 mph and traveled 406 feet out to right-center field. After rounding the bases, Lee immediately pointed to the stands, where his family — including his father, KBO legend Jong Beom Lee — proudly pumped their fists and exchanged hugs in a show of jubilation.
“That’s a pretty tough lefty to hit his first home run off of,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s been impressive across the board to this point.”
Lee, who traded three autographed balls and a hat to a Bay Area family in exchange for his first-homer ball, has now hit safely in each of his first three games with the Giants, going 4-for-12 with four RBIs out of the leadoff spot.
“Huge spark,” Conforto said. “He’s incredible. We love watching him hit. Everybody’s watching him when he’s up there. His discipline, his eye at the plate, his ability to stay on pitches, stay through the middle of the field. Obviously, we saw a little bit of power – a lot of power – if he gets the right pitch. He’s been awesome. We’re just going to keep putting him at the top of the lineup and let him set the tone for us.”
Lee has been viewed as more of a contact hitter, but his first blast suggested that he might have more thump in his left-handed bat than expected.
“Back in the KBO, I got a lot of doubles, triples,” Lee said via interpreter Justin Han. “I’m just thinking about the bat-to-ball skills. … I feel like getting adjusted to the league has been a good process, and it’s all because of my teammates.”
Lee extended the Giants’ lead to 4-1, but the knockout blow came five batters later, when Conforto slugged his second career grand slam on a misplaced sinker from Cosgrove. It was Conforto’s second home run in three games, and his first grand slam since May 28, 2019.
“I feel like everything is coming together at the right time, right at the beginning of the season,” Conforto said. “It was a cool at-bat to have, bases loaded against that guy. He’s a good lefty. To battle and fight and kind of change my approach by the end of it, that felt really good.”
The flamethrowing Hicks topped out at 99.5 mph with his fastball, but he also mixed in plenty of wicked sweepers and splitters, which accounted for four of his six strikeouts. He stumbled into a jam after the Padres loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but he managed to avoid damage by striking out Tyler Wade swinging on the split and then inducing an inning-ending lineout from Jackson Merrill.
“He’s throwing 3-2 splitters to strike guys out,” Melvin said. “You get a third weapon like that, with his fastball, it’s pretty tough to think along with him.”
Hicks also benefited from some elite defense when third baseman Matt Chapman backhanded Fernando Tatis Jr.’s hard-hit grounder to the left side before spinning and throwing to first for the final out of the third. Shortstop Nick Ahmed also made a phenomenal barehanded play to rob Tatis again to end the fifth, drawing more appreciation from Hicks.
“I love having them there,” Hicks said. “You can’t ask for much more. They were very, very good today.”
Maria Guardado covers the Giants for MLB.com. She previously covered the Angels from 2017-18.
Whisenhunt Dazzles in Game One, Ramos Homers in Game Two
By Jake Ward (RiverCats Media Relations)
March 31, 2024
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fans of pitching were in for a treat in the doubleheader on Sunday between the Sacramento River Cats and the Salt Lake Bees, as the two sides kept each other at bay and wound up splitting the twin bill after Sacramento took game one by a 1-0 final but saw the Bees capture game two in extra innings, 3-2.
Game One (7 Innings)
Pitching was the theme in the first of the day’s twin bill, and shining was none other than the No. 3 prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization, Carson Whisenhunt. He punched out the first batter he faced, struck out the side in the second, and ended his day after three innings by recording six of his nine outs via the strikeout. Each of his punchouts ended with a whiff by a Bees (1-2) batter, and he yielded just one hit without a walk.
Following the groove of the lefty for the River Cats (2-1) was right-hander Spencer Bivens (1-0), who picked up where Whisenhunt left off by striking out two in the fourth, the latter of which came with runners at the corners to leave them stranded.
It takes two to duel, as despite a leadoff single from Heliot Ramos, Sacramento was held off base in each the second and third innings by Zach Plesac. Finally in the fourth the River Cats broke through against Plesac thanks to the duo of Casey Schmitt and last night’s walk-off hero Brett Wisely. Wisely walked and was able to swipe second to put himself in scoring position, when Schmitt tallied his first hit of the season that sailed into center field and produced what would be the game’s only run.
Bivens kept his momentum going through the sixth, as a walk to Jack Lopez in the top of the fifth was erased when Lopez was caught stealing. Next time out, Bivens worked around a one-out ground rule double by Livan Soto to end the sixth.
Taking over to start the seventh was right-hander Cody Stashak (S, 1), who worked a quick and clean seventh for his first save since he was a member of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on May 20, 2019. Despite his dominant outing, Whisenhunt earned a no-decision.
One day after logging 14 strikeouts in their season-opening contest, which was the most in a season-opener in Sacramento history since at least 2005, the River Cats collected another 11 punchouts in their campaign’s second game. Last year in 2023, there were only 10 instances of Sacramento logging 11 or more strikeouts in consecutive games (high of four from 6/13-6/16).
Charged with the loss for Salt Lake was Plesac, who lasted 5.0 innings and allowed just two hits and a pair of walks while striking out four. Former San Francisco Giant Hunter Strickland tossed the sixth and allowed one hit with a strikeout.
Both teams had just three hits in the contest, and only Soto of Salt Lake had a multi-hit game. For the River Cats, the trio of hits came from Ramos, Schmitt and David Villar, while the only run was scored by Wisely after his walk. The game was the fastest seven-inning game in Sacramento history at one hour and 38 minutes, topping the season opening contest between these same two teams from last year on April 1, 2023 by one minute (one hour, 39 minutes).
Game Two (9 Innings)
Continuing the low-scoring theme of the day, game two of the doubleheader did not see a run through the originally scheduled seven innings. It was not until the eighth inning that the Bees broke through on the scoreboard, taking advantage of the free runner on second base with a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third, where they scored easily on a single by Jordyn Adams. Salt Lake continued the offensive and loaded the bases, ultimately scoring once more on a bases loaded walk.
On the first pitch of the home half of the eighth the River Cats answered, as Heliot Ramos hammered the first offering to straightaway center field for a two-run homer. The first of the year by Ramos was reminiscent of his pair of walk-off home runs in 2023, getting out of the park in a hurry and energizing the home crowd.
Moving into the ninth, it seemed as if Sacramento would escape the inning without allowing a run, but the throw to first from Otto Lopez on a would-be inning-ending double play sailed wide and into the Bees’ dugout, allowing the run to score. The River Cats would then go down in order to bring an end to the game.
Both teams were able to put runners on in the early going, but both had a runner picked off in the first. Each team had one hit in the third and fourth innings but failed to get anything to materialize.
Sacramento starter Mason Black went five innings and scattered four hits, striking out five in the process but left with a no-decision. RJ Dabovich made his season debut and worked 1.1 scoreless innings, while Tanner Andrews (0-1) yielded an unearned run in 1.2 innings but was also charged with the loss.
Earning credit for the victory was Zac Kristofrak (1-0), as he tossed 1.2 scoreless frames while walking and striking out one. Davis Daniel, Salt Lake’s starter, also was rendered a no-decision despite his six frames of work, allowing five hits and punching out five.
Luciano collected the only multi-hit game in the second half of the day for Sacramento, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Also logging hits was Ismael Munguia, Blake Sabol, Lopez and Pinder.
With the first homestand in the books, Sacramento will now hit the road for their first six-game set, which begins on Tuesday at Greater Nevada Field in Reno, Nev. as the River Cats take on the Reno Aces beginning Tuesday at 2:05 p.m.
The Giants are already loaded with a starting rotation consisting of Logan Webb, Blake Snell, Jordan Wicks and Kyle Harrison, but a young arm is strong-arming his way toward San Francisco.
In his 2024 debut, Carson Whisenhunt struck out six batters while allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings in Triple-A Sacramento River Cats 1-0 win over Salt Lake on Sunday afternoon at Sutter Health Park.
“It’d be really cool to get the opportunity to go up there and be with those guys,” Whisenhunt said. “I’m trying not to look that far ahead. Just trying to get back into the field and take care of things. And if I get the opportunity to go out there, I’ll take advantage of it.”
MLB Pipeline’s No. 80 overall prospect allowed just one hit — a single grounded to right field by Livan Soto, the second batter he faced — and racked up 12 swings-and-misses.
The 23-year-old’s arsenal is equipped with a sinker, a slider and a curveball. On Sunday, Whisenhunt generated five whiffs with his sinker, which topped at 95 mph. His changeup accounted for seven whiffs.
“I’ve been working on a bunch of different things through Spring Training and the offseason,” Whisenhunt said. “I feel like all of my pitches were really good today. There were a few misses that I can work on and get better at, but for just that first time back out there, an actual game felt really good.”
Whisenhunt put himself on the map last year. In 16 appearances, he posted a 2.45 ERA and held hitters to a .177 average-against in 58 2/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A. He ascended from the club’s No. 8 prospect slot to No. 3 this season.
“I’m not trying to do too much on the mound,” Whisenhunt said about last season’s success. “I’m trying not to overthink it or do anything out of the ordinary. Coming into this year, I’m trying to keep that same mindset, just trying to stay myself.”
His numbers are even more impressive when you consider that he was shut down late last July with a left elbow sprain. Remaining healthy was a key priority for Whisenhunt during the offseason.
Having already mastered his changeup and sinker, the East Carolina product also spent time working on command and developing his curveball. He only threw it twice for the River Cats in Sunday’s game, but already feels like progress has been made.
