River Cats launch three homers but fall in shootout

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - The Sacramento River Cats (34-44) used the long ball once again on Tuesday, but fell to the Albuquerque Isotopes (39-38) 13-8. Mac Williamson homered in his second straight game since rejoining the team, but Giants' righty Jeff Samardzija allowed two Isotopes home runs as part of a five-run Isotopes first inning.

Samardzija was making his third rehab appearance with Sacramento, but was hit hard early on Tuesday night. After the tough first inning, however, the big right-hander recovered to retire 12 of his next 14 batters. He threw 88 pitches (53 strikes), and the question becomes whether the Giants will elect to activate him from the disabled list before his next scheduled start.
The River Cats offense did their part to keep the game within range, inching closer with two-run bombs from Williamson and Chase d'Arnaud. The River Cats got to within one at 6-5, but Albuquerque pulled away with seven runs in the seventh inning to take a 13-5 lead. Catcher Ronnie Freeman added a home run late to arrive at the final score.
The River Cats are back in action tomorrow for the third game of this four-game series. Sacramento will call upon lefty Matt Gage (3-6, 5.89) to toe the rubber and Albuquerque will send fellow lefty Sam Howard (3-4, 5.47) to the hill. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. (PT). Catch all of the action live online at rivercats.com, on the MiLB First Pitch app, and on the air on Money 105.FM beginning at 7:00 p.m. (PT).
Additional Notes
· Just one night after clubbing four home runs, the River Cats smacked three two-run homers in tonight's loss, capped off with Ronnie Freeman's shot to dead center field in the eighth inning. They have hit seven home runs in two games after hitting zero in their recent four-game homestand against El Paso.
· With his 3-for-4 night with two runs scored, Ryder Jones posted his 18th multi-hit game of the season and his fifth three-hit game. The third baseman is now hitting .297 on the season.