Pickoff try turns into walk-off win for River Cats

West Sacramento, CA - The Sacramento River Cats (57-72) clinched the series win over the Albuquerque Isotopes (62-67) in exciting fashion Tuesday night, loading the bases in the ninth inning before getting the 3-2 walk-off win.

Before the late-inning drama, Johnny Cueto and Joe Panik made their 2017 River Cats season debuts. Cueto went three shutout innings, striking out one while tossing 47 pitches (32 strikes). Panik started at second base tonight, finishing 0-for-2 with a strikeout over five innings before being replaced by Juan Ciriaco in the sixth.
Both teams pushed two runs across in the fourth inning with Mac Williamson and Tim Federowicz each collecting an RBI. In the ninth, Federowicz started a rally by singling up the middle. The veteran catcher eventually scored the winning run when a pickoff attempt by Albuquerque's Carlos Estévez went wide of first base and rolled down the right field line. The win was Sacramento's sixth walk-off of the season.
The River Cats will have their final off day of the season tomorrow before traveling to El Paso for a four-game series. Sacramento will send left-hander Matt Gage (1-6, 6.33) to the hill and the Chihuahuas will counter with right-hander Bryan Rodriguez (7-8, 4.80). First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. (PT) and the game can be heard live online at rivercats.com. The game will also air starting at 7 pm on the air on ESPN 1320.
Postgame Notes
Quotes of the Night: "I felt really good out there, I wanted to keep pitching but I was under the pitch count for three innings. After one more rehab start I should be able to be back up (with the Giants)." - Johnny Cueto on his outing tonight.
Quotes of the Night: "When you have a rehab assignment you want to make sure you're seeing the ball well and swinging well and for me none of the symptoms came back. Going out there I felt great, got some good swings off and that's all you can really ask for." - Joe Panik on his rehab start.
Cueto: Johnny Cueto last pitched at Raley Field in March of 2016 for the Giants in the first River Cats vs. Giants Exhibition Game…he allowed three hits and struck out one while throwing 47 pitches (32 strikes) over three innings.
Duggar: Centerfielder Steven Duggar finished 1-for-4 with a run in his second game with Sacramento…stole his second base in as many games.
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The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the three-time World Champion San Francisco Giants. The team plays at Raley Field in West Sacramento, consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2017 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.