Late Push Caps 13-5 Victory for Kitties Over Rainiers

TACOMA, Wash. – Thursday’s showdown between the Sacramento River Cats and Tacoma Rainiers was close until the final frames, as Sacramento scored nine runs over the eighth and ninth innings to seal a 13-5 win in game three at Cheney Stadium.

It was the Rainiers (28-20/71-52) that took the early lead thanks to a Duke Ellis double down the left-field line, but the River Cats (21-27/65-58) were able to equalize in the top of the fourth on Wade Meckler’s second homer of the season.

Quickly Tacoma pulled back in front in the home half of the frame, countering with a dinger of their own when Seby Zavala crushed a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right field. That was when Sacramento unleashed its first multi-run inning, doing so when Trenton Brooks delivered a clutch two-out, three-run homer against Rainiers starter Blas Castano.

Though Tacoma pulled back within one on their second homer of the game, a leadoff solo blast from Ellis in the seventh, the River Cats unleashed nine runs over the final two innings to slam the door. It started with two runs in the top of the eight, the first run scoring when Luis Matos unleashed his second homer in as many games, the fourth time this season he’s left the yard in consecutive contests. Immediately following Wade Meckler doubled, and quickly scored on an ensuing David Villar RBI single.

Sacramento saved the best for last, pouring on seven runs with eight hits in the frame, the eight knocks their most in any inning this season. Among the highlights of the frame included a Brett Wisely three-run big fly on a 3-2 pitch, as well as RBI singles from Matos, Marco Luciano, and Sabol.

Going the first 4.1 innings on the hill for the River Cats was Kai-Wei Teng, who allowed only two runs on six hits with five strikeouts while walking two. Taking over and earning credit for the win was Spencer Howard (3-3), who soaked up 2.2 innings and yielded one run on one hit with one strikeout.

All 10 River Cats that came to the plate in the game had a hit, which comes on the heels of a game where all nine Cats earned a knock thanks to yesterday’s victory. Tops among hitters today was the trio of Wisley, Brooks and Sabol, the former two each hitting a home run with Wisely driving in three while Brooks topped him with four. Meckler was the only with two extra-base hits by also logging a two-bagger with his homer.

As a team the River Cats ended with 20 hits, which is a new season-high and the most in a game they’ve had since doing so on April 16, 2023 in a 17-9 win over Reno. Additionally, Sacramento hit four homers, the seventh time this season they have done so with the last time coming on July 20 against Albuquerque.

Now with a 2-1 lead in the six-game series, the River Cats will look to clinch at minimum a series split when the two teams line up for game four of the series at Cheney Stadium beginning at 7:05 p.m. (PT).