The Sacramento River Cats (11-20) seemed to have things locked up heading into the ninth inning Monday night but watched the game slip away, falling to the Reno Aces (20-12) 7-6.
The Sacramento River Cats (11-20) seemed to have things locked up heading into the ninth inning Monday night but watched the game slip away, falling to the Reno Aces (20-12) 7-6.
Sacramento starter Michael Roth was tasked with keeping the Aces in check and the left-hander did just that, getting ahead of Reno hitters early by throwing first pitch strikes to 21 of the 24 hitters he faced. The southpaw got his run support early, thanks to a five-run third inning highlighted by Mac Williamson's three-run, 438-foot home run. Roth helped his own cause tonight as well, adding a two-out RBI of his own in the third and singling again in the fifth.
It all unraveled in the ninth however, as relievers Ryan Webb and Roberto Gomez combined to give up six runs, capped off by an Aces grand slam that sealed the victory. The loss was the first for the River Cats when leading after eight innings of play.
The River Cats look for the series split in tomorrow's Tuesday matinee. Sacramento's right-hander Chris Stratton (0-0, 5.52) will get the start opposite Reno's lefty Anthony Banda (3-1, 3.82). First pitch is set for 12:05 pm (PT) and the game can be heard live online at rivercats.com and on the air on ESPN 1320.
