Sacramento River Cats defeat the San Francisco Giants 8-1
Gallery can be found here.
As Spring Training nears its conclusion, enthusiastic fans flocked to Sutter Health Park on a Sunday afternoon for a thrilling display of minor-league and Major League baseball in Sacramento.
In a packed stadium, the San Francisco Giants faced off against their AAA affiliate, the River Cats, in one of the last preparatory games of the spring season for the orange and black team.
Among the notable additions were outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman, who donned the Giants' uniform for the first time. Meanwhile, beloved veteran and three-time World Series champion Pablo Sandoval graced the field, possibly marking his final appearance in Sacramento as the "Panda."
The occasion was significant for local baseball enthusiasts, as it marked the Giants' return to Sutter Health Park for the first time since 2018.
A capacity crowd of 14,014 filled the stands, providing a glimpse of the excitement building as Thursday's Opening Day draws near and the highly anticipated 2024 regular season commences. Although he didn't take the field on Sunday afternoon, local talent and reigning National League Cy Young Award runner-up, Logan Webb, graced the event, joining San Francisco to support his team in a familiar environment.
Webb, hailing from Rocklin and a devoted Sacramento Kings supporter, engaged with the press, emphasizing the significance of witnessing Major League Baseball close to his hometown.
"This morning, I made the trip to see my family and catch up with everyone. I know a few of them will be at the game, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to return here and spend time," Webb, set to start Thursday's season opener in San Diego, expressed about his visit to Sacramento.
Reflecting on his experiences at Sutter Health Park as an Oakland A's enthusiast—the former affiliate of the River Cats—Webb also shared his aspirations of seeing a Major League Baseball team establish roots in the 916 area code someday.
"It's always a special feeling being back here. You all know how much I support the Kings. I just wish we had a baseball team here," Webb expressed. "I mean, a Major League team. I truly believe this city could support one. Look at the turnout for the Kings games, look at how passionate River Cats fans are. I adore this place, and I'm proud to call it home."
Bob Melvin, the first-year Giants manager and native of Northern California, expressed nothing but admiration for Sutter Health Park and the city of Sacramento.
"It's fantastic, really. It's a great moment for Sacramento, and having [former Giants manager and Roseville native] Dusty [Baker] throw the first pitch and [former MLB All-Star and West Sacramento native] Steve Sax involved in the game adds to the excitement," Melvin remarked. "Visiting affiliates like this is valuable for us, especially for those of us who haven't been here in a while, like myself, Matt Williams, and some of the new coaches. It gives us a sense of what the organization is all about."
Melvin's ties to Sacramento run deep. With his extensive experience in the Oakland Athletics organization, where he served as the A’s manager from 2011 to 2021, he is familiar with the city and the ballpark. The River Cats were affiliated with Oakland until the 2014 season, when they became affiliated with the Giants.
Despite the passage of time, Melvin emphasized that his view of Sacramento remains unchanged: it's a fantastic baseball city.
"I've always been impressed with how Sacramento rallies around baseball. When I was with the A's, there was definitely a division between A's and Giants fans here. Of course, the Giants have a stronger presence now that they're affiliated with the River Cats. Nonetheless, Sacramento has always been a stronghold for baseball," Melvin remarked.
The atmosphere around the ballpark was electric as fans congregated in the parking lot for tailgates, queued up well in advance of the gate openings, and filled the grass hill seating area beyond the right-center field fence over an hour before the first pitch.
Despite being the first meeting between these two affiliates in six years, the exhibition felt like a regular-season game, with fans fully engaged with every pitch.
Sunday served as a poignant reminder that regardless of the event—be it for the Kings, Republic FC, or River Cats—Sacramento sports fans consistently turn out in impressive numbers.