River Cats Report 06/18/2014

The Cats miniature slump continued into last week as Omaha came into town. The Storm Chasers took three out of four on Sacramento’s home field as the Cats’ bats were tamed for most of the series. The week began with a 2-0 loss where the Cats could only muster four hits for the game. Dan Straily went eight innings, striking out seven but allowed the only two runs of the ball game as he took the loss.

Mar 5, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder

(23) celebrates after hitting a second inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The next day the Cats would get the victory, winning 3-2 on the backs of Michael Taylor, Jake Elmore and Andy Parrino. However, Omaha came back with a vengeance, winning the third game 10-4 and the final game of the set 6-2. Cats’ pitcher Arnold Leon would take the loss in the series ender, pitching six innings with eight Ks, but giving up four runs and two homers in the process.

Sacramento would face the Iowa Cubs next, and as much as all the fans wanted, new player-coach Manny Ramirez was not traveling with the club to face his former River Cats.

Hitting Performance of the Week: Co-winners for the first time: Nate Freiman went 2 for 4 with a grand slam and a double in a win against Iowa and Tyler Ladendorf went 3 for 5 with a homer, two doubles, two runs and an RBI in a win over Iowa.

The series started well for the Cats as they opened the series with a 7-5 win. Big Nate Freiman‘s bat would supply four of the runs with a grand salami in the seventh inning with two outs. Reliever Paul Smyth earned his first win of the year while Jeremy McBryde picked up the save. A solid pounding would come to the Cubs at the hands of Sac for the next game, as the Cats won 9-4. All but one player earned a hit in the victory and four had multi-hit games. Straily would earn his fourth win of the season after a dominating performance.

The Cats would fall to the Cubs in their next bout 4-3 as rehabbing reliever Eric O’Flaherty would take the loss after allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings. In the final meeting of the four game set, Sac defeated the Cubs 5-1, racking up 14 hits in the process. Pitcher Matt Buschmann would get the win, pitching six innings and striking out six while allowing a run.

Pitching Performance of the Week: Dan Straily with 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 9 Ks and a W against Iowa.

Additionally, O’Flaherty, as mentioned, made two appearances with the Cats during his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The A’s made a franchise altering (or at least it would have been one three years ago) move this week by trading outfielder Michael Taylor to the White Sox. Taylor was once seen as the A’s top prospect but couldn’t keep himself in the majors for an extended amount of time. Taylor is the all-time hits and RBI leader for the club. The A’s received class-A pitcher Jake Sanchez. Pitcher Evan Scribner was called up to the A’s after Drew Pomeranz was sent to the 15-Day DL with a fractured hand. Jake Elmore, already playing with the Cats, was reinstated from the 60-Day DL and optioned to Sacramento. Andy Parrino, who was sent to the A’s as Alberto Callaspo was on paternity leave was sent back down to the River Cats when Callaspo returned.