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Carlos Gonzalez's grand slam helps lift the River Cats over the Sky Sox, 6-2

05/22/2008 11:48 PM

Carlos Gonzalez's grand slam in the bottom of the first helped lift the River Cats to a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Thursday night.

Jordan Guinn
Rivercats.com
Staff Writer

(May 22, WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif.)—The River Cats jumped to an early lead and never looked back Thursday night against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

The Cats batted around in the bottom of the first and made the lead last the rest of the contest. Sky Sox starter Franklin Morales plunked Wes Bankston in the foot with the bases loaded to start the Cats’ offensive outpouring in the opening frame. Carlos Gonzalez deposited Morales’ 2-1 offering onto the lawn well beyond the fence in right center field for a grand slam, his fourth home run of the season. The shot gave the Cats a 5-0 lead.

“I knew I was going to get a pitch to drive, he had the bases loaded and just hit someone,” Gonzalez said after the game. “It was a mid-90’s fastball…middle in, it was a perfect pitch to drive.”

Cats’ starter Dan Meyer went six strong innings en route to his fifth victory this season. Meyer allowed five hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven and walking three.

“He threw the ball well,” Cats manager Todd Steverson said. “His walks have to come down a bit…the walks probably cost him an extra inning.”

Morales, rated as the No. 1 prospect in the Rockies’ farm system by Baseball America before the start of the season, struggled with his command and lasted only two innings. He walked four and hit Bankston as well as Travis Buck. He allowed five runs on three hits. Morlaes’ ERA coming into the start was 11.00. After Thursday’s appearance, it ballooned to 13.09.

Sky Sox manager and Tom Runnells and shortstop Doug Bernier were ejected in the top of the third after arguing a called third strike. The game was momentarily delayed as Runnells verbally sparred with home plate umpire Scott Chamberlain and casually walked back to the visitor’s clubhouse with Bernier.

Edward Cornejo replaced Bernier and hit a two-out single with the bases loaded in the fourth to score Ian Stewart and Edwin Bellorin and cut the Cats’ lead to 5-2. Cats’ first basemen Wes Bankston never saw the ball as it left Cornejo’s bat and soared over his head. The bloop single landed safely in front of Gonzalez in right field.

Valerio De Los Santos gave the Sky Sox a solid relief appearance and kept his team in the game after Morales was roughed up early. Santos faced one more than the minimum during his five innings of relief and he struck out nine. Santos’ only blemish was an infield single by Casey Rogowski in the sixth inning.

“He pitched great, he had his cutter and fastball working,” Steverson said.

The Cats added another run in the bottom of the eighth without getting a single hit. Sky Sox reliever Chris George walked four in two-thirds of an inning to increase the lead to 6-2. George walked Jeff Baisley with the sacks full and Buck came into score. Baisley came into the game in the seventh inning as a replacement for Eric Chavez. Chavez went 1-4 with a double, two strikeouts and scored a run.

Brad Ziegler worked the ninth for the Cats and secured the victory. His appearance did not count as a save since the Cats were up by four runs to start the frame. Ziegler allowed one hit and struck out Jayson Nix swinging to end the game.

Not a fan of maple bats: Cats manager Todd Steverson had to move quickly to avoid being hit by the barrel of Landon Powell’s maple bat when it broke in the bottom of the sixth inning. Steverson, who used an ash bat when he played, admitted after the game that he does not care for maple bats and that he would not miss them if they were outlawed.

“They don’t break right,” he said. “They are dangerous (the way they break) and eventually at some point will injure someone.” He added that maple bats break when they shouldn’t. “Guys will hit the ball on the screws and the bat will explode.”

Game notes: The Cats concluded an eight-game homestand Thursday night…The Cats went 6-2, 3-1 against the Sky Sox, and improved their overall record to 29-18…The Sky Sox fall to 21-25…With the win, the Cats lead the Pacific Coast League South Division by four and a half games over the Fresno Grizzles…Temperature at first pitch was 76 degrees and the attendance was 8,368…Carlos Gonzalez now has two home runs and 10 RBI’s against left-handed pitching this season…Franklin Morales has walked 17 hitters in 11 innings during the 2008 campaign…Morales threw 67 pitches in two innings, Santos threw 61 pitches in five…Brad Ziegler’s ERA is now 0.42…The Cats next game will be Friday, May 23 against the Sidewinders in Tucson. Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 4.40) will take the bump for the Cats while Chris Kinsey (0-1, 4.42) is slated to start for the Sidewinders; first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Email any comments or concerns relating to the article to Jordan Guinn at mediarel@rivercats.com

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