By Jason Tajima
EBC Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO (Eagle News) — It was another beautiful night in Sacramento, California where the local minor league baseball team, the River Cats, was wrapping up a three-game series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The River Cat’s right-handed pitcher, Taylor Hill, stepped-up to the mound in his debut at Raley Field. Hill coming off a strong game did not have the same “juice” tonight and was pulled after the fifth inning and replaced by Jose Flores. Tonight the River Cats hoped to use the home field advantage to take the series which was tied, one game apiece.
Dodgers were off to an aggressive start scoring two in the second inning. Travis Taijeron hit a home run with Edwin Rios on base, resulting in a 2-0 lead. Shortly after, the River Cats answered with Steven Duggar hitting a sacrifice fly ball to center field while Trevor Brown and Orlando Calixte score, tying the game at two.
At the top of the third, Dodgers’ Henry Ramos hit a home run down the center field, with Andrew Toles scoring another point and Oklahoma City was up 4-2. The Dodgers closed out the inning, preventing the River Cats from narrowing the lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Chris Shaw of the River Cats bombed a two-run homer to center field closing the six-point gap to four and continuing his impressive hitting streak.
Throughout the game, both teams were hitting extremely well, much to the delight of fans who were eager to bring home souvenirs. Despite the valiant efforts of the River Cats, it was not enough to overcome the hot hitting of the Dodgers who came out on top with a final score of 10-6.
However, for fans like Darryl Blair, going to baseball games is about more than just winning. The former season ticket holder said him and his family continued to come for their love of the sport and just to “enjoy a good day out at the ballpark.”
(Eagle News Service)