Four-Run Frame Levels Game but Cats Still Fall to Express

ROUND ROCK, Tex. – Four runs in the top of the sixth helped the Sacramento River Cats draw level in game two of their series with the Round Rock Express, but lone Round Rock run in the bottom of the seventh was the deciding factor in Sacramento’s 6-5 loss on Wednesday.

Three scoreless frames had gone by before either team hit the scoreboard, with the Express (30-34/67-71) doing so first in the home half of the fourth with a three-spot. Round Rock used just three hits in the inning to do so, but two were RBI singles from Kellen Strahm and Alex De Goti.

In the top of the fifth the River Cats (31-34/75-65) countered with a run on a Trenton Brooks sacrifice fly, but quickly saw the Express rebuild their lead thanks to a Trevor Hauver two-run homer to right field on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Though they did not dial up the long ball, the River Cats still produced a four-run rally in the top of the sixth that was highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Donovan Walton. Two walks and a single to Hunter Bishop loaded the bases in front of Blake Sabol, and he delivered with an RBI single into center that scored Andrew Knapp.

Next up was Walton, who laced a ball down the left field line and into the corner, deep enough to score all three runners on base and officially eliminate the Sacramento deficit.

Unfortunately for the River Cats, a walk and flyout saw Matt Duffy move into scoring position for Round Rock, where he scored in the next at-bat on a Sam Huff single into left center. That tally proved to be the game’s deciding run, as the Sacramento put just two runners on from that point forward as they drew a walk in each the eighth and ninth.

Charged with the loss for Sacramento was Clay Helvey (6-6), as he allowed just the run in the seventh over his 2.1 innings of work, striking out four while also walking one. Sacramento starter Carson Ragsdale turned in his second scoreless outing of the season, working 3.0 innings while yielding two hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Only Bishop had multiple knocks in the game for the River Cats, going 2-for-5 with a run scored and a double. Also producing doubles in the game Casey Schmitt and Walton, the former going 1-for-4 with a run scored while the later was 1-for-2 with his three RBI.

Even at a game apiece, both teams will look to take an edge in the series during game three on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. (PT) from Dell Diamond.