River Cats complete a doubleheader sweep of Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – The last time the River Cats visited AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, they ran away with the Triple-A championship trophy.

The stakes were considerably lower Thursday night as the River Cats and Oklahoma RedHawks squared off in a doubleheader at the "Brick." But the outcome was pretty much the same.

Led by the big bats of Casey Rogowski and Brooks Conrad, Sacramento won 6-4 and 7-1.

"It was just one game, and it was a blur," outfielder Nick Blasi said of the River Cats' victory over the International League's Richmond Braves on Sept. 18. "I remember this park, though. This is a pretty good hitter's park."

Thursday night, the River Cats (19-15) totaled 27 hits, including four homers, and retook the lead in the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Conference Southern Division.

"I'm happy with the two wins," River Cats manager Todd Steverson said. "You hope to get the first win, and then the second one is gravy."

Most of the action took place in the nine-inning opening game.

The River Cats logged eight hits and four runs in the first five innings. Landon Powell put Sacramento up 3-1 on a solo shot in the fourth, but in the bottom of the inning, Oklahoma scored three runs on homers by Nate Gold and John Mayberry.

Rogowski tied the score with a homer in the fifth, but neither team could close the deal.

The RedHawks put two runners on base in the seventh and eighth innings but failed to drive them home. River Cats reliever Brad Ziegler earned the win, shutting down Oklahoma batters down the stretch.

"He's a sidewinder now," Steverson said. "He threw strikes and made sure the hits were ground balls."

Blasi ended the River Cats' four-inning hitting drought on a double to center field in the top of the ninth inning. Conrad sent the next pitch trickling between first and second base to score Blasi. Rogowski then singled to left field and drove in Conrad.

The River Cats had 12 hits in the first game, and they needed half the time to get as many in the second. Conrad led the charge, going 3 for 3 with an RBI. Danny Putnam had a solo shot in the second inning, and Joe Gaetti homered in the seventh – and final – inning.

The River Cats aren't scheduled to return to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark until 2010. "That's really a shame because it's fun to play in this park," Blasi said.