Quick Pitcher’s Duel Ends in Favor of River Cats

Scores Three Times in First Four Innings, Seymour Earns Seventh Win

Carson Seymour delivers a pitch during Sacramento's game at Sutter Health Park on Aug. 31, 2024. (Ralph Thompson Photo)

By Jake Ward

September 12, 2024

ROUND ROCK, Tex. – One run in three of the first four innings was enough to last for the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday, as the pitching was sharp enough to limit the Round Rock Express to a pair of second-inning tallies during Sacramento’s 3-2 victory. Thairo Estrada put the

ROUND ROCK, Tex. – One run in three of the first four innings was enough to last for the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday, as the pitching was sharp enough to limit the Round Rock Express to a pair of second-inning tallies during Sacramento’s 3-2 victory.

Thairo Estrada put the River Cats (32-34/76-65) on top in Sacramento’s first set of swings, unloading on a 2-1 pitch by crushing his third homer of the season out to left field. However, that early lead was quickly overcome when the Express (30-35/67-72) scored twice in the home half of the second thanks to a two-RBI single into left center from Marcus Smith.

Sacramento found a way to snatch a victory by manufacturing a pair of runs, the first of which came right away in the away half of the third. Donovan Walton was hit by a pitch to start the frame and advanced to third on a David Villar single, finally scoring the game-tying run on a wild pitch from Round Rock starter Ryan Garcia (2-3).

In the following frame is when the River Cats managed the game-winning run, starting with a Casey Schmitt single to begin the frame before immediately moving to third on a Blake Sabol double. Two batters later and Schmitt crossed the plate, scampering home on a safety squeeze bunt from Christian Koss.

That was all the offense needed as the Sacramento pitching was sharp throughout, starting with Carson Seymour (7-10) who logged his seventh win of the season with a quality start by allowing just two runs on four hits over 6.0 innings, striking out five while walking three.

Following was Tommy Romero with his first hold of the season, yielding two hits in two frames, while Justin Garza (S, 3) earned his third save of the campaign by striking out the side in the ninth.

Both Wade Meckler and Blake Sabol notched two-hit games, the latter of which lined a double. Meanwhile, Estrada had the other extra-base hit with the homer, while both Villar and Schmitt also had knocks.

Game four of the series gets underway tomorrow 5:15 p.m. (PT) from Dell Diamond.