1st rehab test comes in field
SACRAMENTO — Hunter Pence provided an immediate thrill in his first game since a spring training pitch broke his arm two months ago, delighting fans with a running catch on a pop fly near the right- field foul line Friday at Triple- A Sacramento.
Pence’s hat flew off as he barreled toward the grassy berm in the rightfield corner in the first inning, living up to his role as the marquee attraction for the crowd of 12,577 at Raley Field.
“We always say, ‘ The ball finds you all the time,’ ” River Cats manager Bob Mariano said. “Here he is, first game back, tough play down the line, and that’s what I said: ‘ Ball found you quick, didn’t it?’ ”
Pence didn’t disappoint as he began a rehab assignment with Sacramento, but he didn’t overwhelm, either. He went 0- for- 2 with a sacrifice fly and a swinging strikeout.
With a runner on third and none out in the first, Pence lifted a flyball down the right- field line to drive in the River Cats’ second run in a 3- 1 win over Albuquerque.
“You know he’s going to be aggressive,” Sacramento hitting coach Andy Skeels said. “His first at- bat, the guy’s got great stuff. And he works a sac fly to right on a tough fastball.”
That was Pence’s most productive plate appearance of the night. He grounded out to shortstop in his second plate appearance and struck out in his third after working the count full. All of Pence’s plate appearances came against Chad Bettis, a right- hander who pitched a combined 691⁄ 3 innings for the Rockies the past two seasons.
“I thought he had some good swings,” Skeels said. “I thought he made good adjustments with his hands. ( Bettis has) got time in the big leagues as well. He’s not facing some schmo.”
Throughout the night, Pence received easily the biggest cheers of any player from the fans in West Sacramento. The stands were dotted with shirts and jerseys sporting his name.
Pence was not made available to the media after the game. The 31year- old right fielder is expected to be back in the lineup for seven innings Saturday night.
Pence is scheduled to take Sunday off, play nine innings Monday and Tuesday, take Wednesday off and play nine innings Thursday through May 16. Sacramento travels to Las Vegas for a four- game set beginning Tuesday and is scheduled to play at Albuquerque on May 16.