In the eighth installment of Taco Truck Throwdown, a crowd of 9,896 saw the Fresno Tacos (56-41) walk-off on the Sacramento River Cats (42-56) 8-7 in 10 frames Thursday night from Chukchansi Park. With the victory, Fresno split the series with Sacramento. They improved to 12-17 in one-run affairs, 3-4
In the eighth installment of Taco Truck Throwdown, a crowd of 9,896 saw the Fresno Tacos (56-41) walk-off on the Sacramento River Cats (42-56) 8-7 in 10 frames Thursday night from Chukchansi Park. With the victory, Fresno split the series with Sacramento. They improved to 12-17 in one-run affairs, 3-4 in extra innings and 11-9 in the fourth game of a set. This was the fifth walk-off win for the Tacos this season, with the most recent coming on June 23 versus Albuquerque.
The River Cats grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Peter Bourjos scored on an error after he reached via hit-by-pitch. Then, a Mac Williamson (3-for-4) RBI double permitted Miguel Gómez (3-for-5) to waltz home. Williamson pushed the advantage to 4-0 in the top of the third when he raked a two-run homer to left field. It was his second clout in as many games and his 12th overall on the year.
Gomez made it 5-0 Sacramento in the top of the fifth when he smashed a solo shot to right field. It was his first big fly of the season.
Antonio Nunez cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth when he destroyed a pitch to the grassy berm in left-center. It was his first longball of the year and the third of his career.
Bourjos extended the lead to 6-2 in the visitor's half of the sixth when he poked a single to right, adding Grégor Blanco.
Jamie Ritchie drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth, trimming the advantage to 6-3.
Derek Fisher (2-for-5) gave Fresno a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the eighth when he pummeled a grand slam to left field. It was his eighth wallop of the season and the second grand slam hit by the squad this year (Jack Mayfield, April 7th at Reno).
Williamson picked up his fourth RBI of the night with a groundout to third to even the game at seven in the top of the ninth. It was the second time in the set where he drove in four runs.
In the bottom of the 10th, Nunez lifted a sacrifice fly to center, knocking in the winning run. Jake Marisnick was the recipient of the 8-7 final. Derek Law (1-1) took the loss and Brendan McCurry (4-4) enjoyed the win.
River Cats starter Shaun Anderson (no-decision) hurled five innings in his Triple-A debut. He allowed two runs (earned), on four hits, three walks and six punchouts. For the second straight year, Mike Hauschild (no-decision) toed the rubber for the Tacos during the event. He fired five and one-third frames, scattering six hits, six runs (five earned), while walking three and whiffing six.
Fresno reliever Ken Giles struck out two in a perfect eighth. The staff fanned 11 on the night, bringing the season total to 940 punchouts (PCL-best). Sacramento's Pierce Johnson recorded five outs, all strikeouts.
Yordan Alvarez (2-for-3) reached base four times, recorded his first Triple-A multi-hit affair and also expanded his hit streak to four games.
The Tacos head on the road for a quick weekend series versus the Albuquerque Isotopes starting Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 PT from Isotopes Park. RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (4-1, 2.92) gets the nod for Fresno while Albuquerque counters with fellow righty Peter Lambert (2-0, 2.45).
