Defense was key to another low scoring affair at Raley’s Field in Sacramento, Ca. Through two games of this very young season, these two teams have not found their offensive groove yet. The great pitching has been the biggest reason for the low scores so far.

Andrew Heaney took the ball to start the game for the Salt Lake City Bees. He took command of the game right from the first pitch. Heaney, a first round pick of the Miami Marlins in the 2012 amateur draft, is in his fourth professional season. He showed the reasons why he is a top 30 prospect according to Baseball America and MLB.com. The LHP started hot and steam-rolled through 7 scoreless innings. After getting a swing and miss strikeout on River Cats left fielder Juan Perez with a devastating change up, Heaney gave up a first inning single to Andrew Susac, a hard hit ground ball through the right side of the infield. This was one of only 2 hits Heaney would give up all night. Susac’s single was followed with an infield ground ball force out at second base.  Heaney finished with 7 innings pitched, 8 strike outs while not walking a single batter. The left-hander narrowly missed being the fifth starter in the rotation for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. With this type of performance, it is not a stretch to say that we will see Heaney up in the Major Leagues again very soon.

Pitching was also at a premium for the River Cats. Left handed pitcher Braulio Lara started off very hot, retiring the side in the first inning with two strikeouts and a ground ball out.  This included a called strike three with Number 3 hitter Kyle Kubitza watching an outstanding 79 mph changeup hit the glove of the River Cats catcher. Lara had just a few hiccups which ended up being the difference in the game. At the top of the second inning, the starter left a fastball up and inside on Alfredo Marte.  He drove the ball down into the left field corner on a screaming line drive. After Marte’s lead off stand up double, he was driven home after Marc Kraus grounded out to first, moving him to third base. That was followed by a ground ball hit to shortstop Ronny Cedeno. Cedeno made the safe play getting the out at first base, allowing Marte to score. The second inning ended with Lara striking out Bees right fielder Roger Kieschnick for the third out.

Lara made one more mistake to the first batter of the 3rd inning. After leaving another fastball up in the zone, this one did not stay in the park. Bee’s catcher Carlos Perez smashed a line drive homerun over the left field fence for the second and final score to the game. Lara pitched five innings giving up five hits, allowing two runs, while not walking a single batter and striking out six.

The bullpens for both teams had a very strong performance. None of the relief pitchers on either team gave up any runs. The Salt Lake City Bee’s pitching staff threw a complete game shutout. The River Cats bullpen did not allow any more runs, but by the time they entered the game it was already too late. Heaney (1-0) recorded his first win of the season with LHP Lara (0-1) taking the loss for the River Cats. RHP Ryan Mattheus came in and closed the door shut for his first save of the season.

The series is now tied 1-1 between the two Pacific Coast League teams. Game 3 is slated to start at 7pm Saturday evening at Raley’s Field in Sacramento. Although both teams are pleased with the pitching results so far, both will be eager to get the offense rolling in the next game.

By Joe Vicory