The Sacramento River Cats finished off another extra inning game in dramatic fashion, this time beat the Tacoma Rainiers 6-5 in 10 innings. It was Jarrett Parker who delivered the big blow, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The radio announcers for the River Cats loudly proclaimed, “How do you spell clutch? … P-A-R-K-E-R!” The game was tied up at 5 apiece when Jarrett Parker hit a game winning RBI single to center field that drove in Skyler Stromsmoe to win the game.

River Cats starter Jake Dunning out pitched Rainiers starter Mike Kickham through the first five innings, then got into a little trouble in the sixth inning. Dunning had started out very well only giving up one run on a hard hit RBI single by Carlos Quentin that scored Ketel Marte. Dunning then struck out the side, finishing with six strikeouts while walking one.

With one out, Dunning hit Carlos Quentin in the left shoulder with a fastball to lead off the sixth inning. Then Ronny Cedeno tried to get the force out at second base on a ground ball hit by Franklin Gutierrez, but instead struggled to get the ball out of his glove and into his hand to make the throw for his third error of the season. Steven Okert replaced Jake Dunning after he gave up a two-run triple to Julio Morban.

Rainiers’ starter Mike Kickham started out a little rough, throwing seven straight balls before giving up a double to Ronny Cedeno and single to Juan Perez. The score was 2-1 very quickly. Kickham would then settle in, getting the River Cats to hit into double plays in five consecutive innings, including a double play when second baseman Ketel Marte made a circus catch over his shoulder then doubling up Juan Perez at first base. Mike Kickham gave up four runs while walking four batters and striking out three.

The Tacoma Rainiers would then take the lead after getting two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Shawn O’Malley and Franklin Gutierrez were driven in on a hard hit line drive single to centerfield by Patrick Kivlehan.

Down one run with six outs left the River Cat’s fans were starting to feel the pressure. The Rainiers brought Joe Saunders the veteran right hander to hold the lead. Saunders’ first batter faced was the hot-hitting Cedeno and he would make him pay. Cedeno would hit his first homerun of the season, tying the game and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

River Cats Manager Bob Mariano then went to bullpen again in the ninth inning. Hunter Strickland, the hard throwing right-hander came in the game and was dominant. He wouldn’t allow a run in his appearance. Hunter quickly retired the side in the top of the ninth. After the River Cats failed to score and end the game in regulation, Hunter then retired the side again in the top of the 10th inning. This was the last he would pitch for the evening.

Going into the bottom of the 10th you could feel the magic that was about to happen at Raley field again. Joe Saunders started the inning by walking Stromsmoe. Stromsmoe was then moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Cedeno. After striking out Juan Perez, the Rainiers did not want to give up another walk-off hit to the hard hitting Adam Duvall. Duvall was intentionally walked. With runners on 1st and 2nd up next to the plate was one of the hottest hitting players in all of the league, Jarrett Parker. The newly nicknamed “Jarrett inside the Parker” did not disappoint, roping a single into center field hard enough that Skyler Stromsmoe was able to score from second base. Mr. Clutch has done it again! Jarrett Parker had the walk off hit again for the second time in this young season to give the River Cats their second win in the series

The final game in this four-game series is Tuesday night. The starters will be RHP Austin Fleet for Sacramento and LHP Mike Montgomery. The Sacramento River Cats have won two out of the three games played in the series.

Boxscore Provided by MiLB.com

By Joe Vicory