Cats and Aces Provide Fireworks, Reno Walks Off Victorious

RENO, Nev. – A pair of multi-run innings helped the Sacramento River Cats hold an edge over the Reno Aces moving into the final third of the game, but that’s when Reno struck for four unanswered and walked-off winners over Sacramento by an 8-7 final on Thursday.

Following a first inning in which the Aces (9-1/44-41) plated three on a two-out, three-run blast from Andres Chaparro, the River Cats (3-7/47-38) responded in the away half of the second by pushing across four of their own. It started with an RBI double from Trenton Brooks, scoring Christian Koss on a double to right field.

Immediately after, Jerar Encarnacion launched the 12th-longest homer of the Triple-A season when he annihilated a ball 469 feet on an 0-2 offering, scoring three and putting Sacramento in front, 4-3. For Encarnacion, it was his fourth blast of the season, his third in the past five games.

While Reno stole a run back in the bottom of the fourth, the River Cats added on in the fifth with another trio of runs that consisted of a Casey Schmitt RBI double, and RBI singles from Brooks and Logan Porter. Once more Reno cancelled out the insurance, tacking on two in the home half of the inning after an error on a fielder’s choice allowed the inning to continue for a sacrifice fly and a Deyvison De Los Santos single.

The call at second base on the fielder’s choice proved a costly one, as not only did two runs end up scoring in the frame that factored into the final decision, it led to the second ejection of the season for manager Dave Brundage.

Gathering momentum, the Aces plated two more runs in the contest, one each in the seventh and ninth. Reno was able to tie the game in the seventh thanks to a solo blast from Kyle Garlick, his 17th of the season, while a leadoff double in the ninth sparked the rally that led to a walk-off single from Chaparro for the 8-7 win.

This was the third walk-off loss of the season for Sacramento, and all three have come in their past three walk-off decisions. Additionally, it was the sixth straight loss for Sacramento, which matches their season high from June 14-20.

Though he allowed the three-run homer in the first, Sacramento starter Robbie Ray got through his next two innings unscathed, ending with a final line of three runs allowed on two hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 3.0 frames. Charged with the loss was Tyler Myrick, who allowed the winning run in the ninth, while Nick Garcia was tabbed with his third blown save of the year.

Both Brooks and Encarnacion finished the contest 3-for-5, with Brooks scoring twice and driving in two with a double while the latter scored once thanks to his three-run blast. Meanwhile, each of Grant McCray, Schmitt, and Porter closed the night with two hits.

Though the River Cats have officially dropped the series, they will continue to battle as the two teams will face off in game five tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. (PT).