Sacramento Denied Sweep as Albuquerque Takes Finale, 2-1

Auerbach, Lamb Extend Hit Streaks, Bullpen Stays Strong

Jake Lamb waits for a pitch on defense at first base during Sacramento's season opener against Albuquerque on March 28, 2025 at Sutter Health Park. (Ralph Thompson Photo)

By Jake Ward

March 30, 2025

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Brett Auerbach RBI double in the home half of the first seemed to put the Sacramento River Cats on the way to a series sweep, but the Albuquerque Isotopes fought back with a run in the third and fifth innings to steal the finale by

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Brett Auerbach RBI double in the home half of the first seemed to put the Sacramento River Cats on the way to a series sweep, but the Albuquerque Isotopes fought back with a run in the third and fifth innings to steal the finale by a score of 2-1.

It was a clutch two-out at-bat from Auerbach to give the River Cats (2-1) the lead, taking a 1-2 offering from Chase Dollander into left field that scored Grant McCray, who had led off the home half of the inning with a single.

The Sacramento offense, which had scored a combined 13 runs over the first two contests, would find chances later in the game but could not capitalize on the opportunities. That included putting at least one runner on in each of the first six innings, and having a runner reach third in two of those frames, but the River Cats left a season-high eight runners stranded.

Starter Carson Whisenhunt (0-1) was mostly sharp throughout the outing, including punching out an early Sacramento season-high nine strikeouts. That was one off of his Triple-A career high of 10 that he achieved twice last season, the last coming in the season’s final game on Sept. 22, 2024 against Sugar Land.

However, the Isotopes (1-2) were able to break through against the southpaw with consecutive doubles in the third from Zac Veen and Owen Miller. Whisenhunt made the turn into the fifth, but the first Triple-A home run from Warming Bernabel in a 3-2 count proved to be the game’s deciding run and left Whisenhunt on the hook for the loss.

Sacramento’s bullpen kept up its hot streak, as Helcris Olivárez made his Triple-A debut and punched out the only hitter he faced in relief of Whisenhunt, stranding a runner 90 feet from home. Trevor McDonald went the rest of the way, working the final 4.0 innings while allowing one hit and a pair of walks with three strikeouts.

Logging three of Sacramento’s nine hits was Grant McCray, who now has the early season Sacramento mark for hits in a game with three by finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored. Four of the other hits came from the No. 4 and 5 spots in the lineup as Jake Lamb and Auerbach each produced a pair of doubles.

Now officially through the first season of 2025, the River Cats will hit the road for a two-week road trip against Las Vegas and Tacoma, starting with the Aviators on Tuesday, April 1 beginning at 6:35 p.m. (PT).