Sacramento River Cats (@ Las Vegas 51s) Triple-A Baseball

The following article is from the Sacramento Bee published on Sunday, May 8, 2005.

Watson's average is at .331
By Arnold Knightly -- Special To The Bee (www.sacbee.com)

LAS VEGAS - Matt Watson entered the game ranked fifth in the Pacific Coast League with 37 hits, then had a two-run single and an RBI single in the River Cats' 8-0 win over the Las Vegas 51s on Saturday night.

" 'Wattie' is a good hitter," River Cats hitting coach Brian McArn said. "He struggled a little bit early (this season). He's become real calm and patient at the plate about getting good pitches to hit and not trying to do too much."

Said Watson, who raised his average to .331: "It's been a weird year. Last year, I hit for a lot of extra-base hits. This year I've been making a lot of contact and ripping low line drives."

The River Cats chased Heath Totten after three innings. Totten had walked seven in 33 2/3 innings coming into the game but left after allowing seven runs, eight hits and six walks.

River Cats starter Jimmy Serrano was much more effective, throwing three-hit ball for six innings. He struck out six.

Victor Moreno and Steve Smyth followed with three combined innings of two-hit, one-walk ball to finish the River Cats' third shutout of the season.

Las Vegas was blanked for the first time this season at home.

Gagne scheduled to pitch - According to 51s manager Jerry Royster, 2003 Cy Young award winner Eric Gagne will make a rehab appearance in today's game.

The Los Angeles' Dodgers closer, on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow, is scheduled to pitch in a late inning or will close if Las Vegas is ahead.

Cats at a glance

Winning pitcher: Jimmy Serrano (2-1).

Big stick: Sacramento's Matt Watson went 2 for 4 with three RBIs

How they won: The River Cats sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring five runs on six hits and two walks, highlighted by Watson's two-RBI single.

What they said: "These guys are good hitters. Sometimes they get themselves out by swinging at everything close. They got back to what makes them good hitters, getting a good pitch to hit." -hitting coach Brian McArn on the River Cats' 12-hit, 10-walk performance.

Next: Today at Las Vegas, 12:05 p.m.

Today's pitcher's: River Cats - LHP John Rheinecker (3-0, 1.89); 51s - RHP Buddy Carlyle (0-0, 0.00).