Cats Close Gap Late but Aces Hold Strong

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A three-run fourth and another tally in the bottom of the eighth brought the Sacramento River Cats within a run of the Reno Aces in their series finale, but Reno added insurance in the ninth and was able to outlast Sacramento on Sunday by a 7-5 final.

The Aces (19-13/54-53) led the entire way in the game, jumping out in front before the River Cats (14-19/58-50) even took their first turn at the dish, scoring five times in the top of the first thanks to five hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Among the highlights were an RBI single from Pavin Smith, as well as a ground rule double by Blaze Alexander.

Sacramento stole a run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI groundout from Trenton Brooks, scoring Wade Meckler who had reached with a one-out single.

Both teams scored again in the fourth, starting with the Aces plating one on a solo home run from Jesus Valdez when he hammered a 3-1 pitch out to left field. However, the River Cats put together their biggest inning of the game with a home run of their own, pushing across three runs thanks to one swing of the bat from Donovan Walton. Awaiting a 2-1 pitch with Brooks and Brett Auerbach on base, the former walking while the latter singled, Walton sent the offering deep over the right-field wall over the bullpen.

Action went quick from the fifth through the seventh, setting up the River Cats to pull within a run thanks to a Hunter Bishop RBI triple in the home half of the eighth. It was the third triple of the season for Bishop, his first since June 19 against Round Rock.

However, that was as close as Sacramento could come, especially after the Aces added an insurance in the form of an Albert Almora Jr. RBI double into left field. That secured a 7-5 win for the Aces, their third in a row over Sacramento, cementing the season series at 15-9 in favor of Reno.

Taking the loss was starter Carson Ragsdale (0-3), his third of the season after he allowed a season-high tying six runs, though he did so in a new season-high 5.0 innings. He was also tagged for a home run, and has yielded a home run in each of his last five games, the longest such streak on the River Cats this season.

Only Wade Meckler had multiple hits in the game, ending his day 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk. Meanwhile, Bishop was 1-for-4 with his triple while Luis Matos and Christian Koss each had a double.

The river Cats will turn the page to the next series, as they will travel to Albuquerque on Monday to prepare for a six-game series with the Isotopes beginning at 5:35 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday evening.