Sunday begins, ends with victories for River Cats

Sunday was doubly rewarding for the River Cats.

In a 5-hour, 22-minute marathon that ended after midnight, Jarrett Parker hit a walk-off grand slam in the 18th inning to give the River Cats a 6-5 victory over the Salt Lake Bees.

Just over 12 hours later, the teams met in the finale of the four-game series at Raley Field, and the River Cats won 7-2.

Parker’s slam came against Bees catcher Charlie Cutler, making his pro pitching debut after Salt Lake ran out of pitchers. Carlos Triunfel led off with a double, and after two walks loaded the bases with one out, Parker connected to right-center. Parker also had a run-scoring double in the second inning.

After the Bees scored once in the seventh to tie it 2-2, both teams went scoreless until the 18th, when Salt Lake scored three runs on four hits against Brett Bochy.

The 18-inning game tied the longest in River Cats history, a 2-1 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers in 2012. That loss also set the River Cats’ record for longest game by time, 5:32.

River Cats catcher Andrew Susac (Jesuit High School) left in the top of the seventh after a foul ball struck his right hand, and he did not play Sunday.

Guillermo Quiroz replaced Susac and had a big game Sunday, going 2 for 4 with four RBIs. He singled in two runs each in the fourth and eighth.

Brandon Hicks went 4 for 4, including an RBI single, and Adam Duvall added a solo homer for the River Cats.

Jake Dunning picked up the victory, allowing two runs in six innings.

Sacramento’s weekend lineup included Travis Ishikawa, who began a rehabilitation assignment from the Giants because of a strained back.

Bee Sports staff