The following article is from the Sacramento Bee published on Saturday, May 7, 2005.
River Cats can't find relief in the 10th inning
Their bullpen can't protect a one-run lead, but starter Seth Etherton is strong.
By Arnold Knightly -- Special To The Bee (www.sacbee.com)
LAS VEGAS - Perhaps the presence of more than 1,000 Tommy Lasorda Bobble Heads was to blame.
Offensively, the River Cats overcame an early three-run deficit and took a one-run lead in the 10th inning.
But their bullpen was unable to close this one out, and the Las Vegas 51s won 5-4 Friday night before a promotion-inspired crowd of 7,050 at Cashman Field.
Tim Harikkala surrendered a walk to start the bottom of the 10th, Mario Ramos surrendered the game-tying RBI single, and Marcus Gwyn gave up Chin-Feng Chen's game-winner.
River Cats starter Seth Etherton recovered from a three-run, five-hit second inning for his strongest outing since returning from the disabled list April 26.
"I felt great," said Etherton, who retired 16 of 17 batters while the River Cats battled back into the game. "I've felt great my last three appearances. Everything's fine."
The right-hander ended a three-run Las Vegas second by getting Antonio Perez to ground into a double play. That started a streak of 14 consecutive retired batters before being relieved to start the eighth inning. He left giving up three runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking one.
"Seth's throwing the ball good," manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "He had a great outing. If the ball hadn't got lost in the twilight, he would have had seven scoreless innings."
The two Las Vegas doubles and the triple in the second inning were towering shots that seemed to get lost in the desert sky, causing outfield misplays.
"With that sky out there, both teams struggled seeing the ball," Etherton said. "That's just part of the game. That's the way this field plays. It was tough luck for us."
The River Cats scored two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the score 3-3.
Shawn Garrett had an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth, scoring Matt Watson from third.
Bobby Smith delivered his only hit of the game, a double to score Dan Johnson to cut the lead to 3-2 through six innings.
Watson singled home Andrew Beattie in the seventh to complete the comeback.
Watson went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, Garrett also went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Johnson went 2 for 5 with a run for the Cats.
Johnson, Garrett, Smith, and Mike Rouse doubled for the River Cats.
Catcher John Baker threw out 51s second baseman Joe Thurston trying to steal second in the first inning.
Cats at a glance
Winning pitcher: Las Vegas' Aquilino López (2-2).
Big stick: The River Cats' Shawn Garrett went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
How they won: The 51s scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning, capped by Chin-Feng Chen's bases-loaded single off the center-field wall with one out, scoring Joe Thurston.
What they said: "We match up well against them, whether we play them here or we play them there," - River Cats starter Seth Etherton on his team's fourth consecutive one-run game against Las Vegas. The 51s lead the season series 3-2.
Next: Today, at Las Vegas, 7:05 p.m.
Today's pitchers: River Cats - RHP Jimmy Serrano (1-1, 7.50). 51s - RHP Heath Totten (3-1, 4.81).
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