Six Straight Runs Send Sacramento to Victory
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Six unanswered runs helped the Sacramento River Cats take the lead late in game two of their series against the El Paso Chihuahuas, storming back with a solo home run from Heliot Ramos in the seventh before a four-run rally in the eighth to capture a
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Six unanswered runs helped the Sacramento River Cats take the lead late in game two of their series against the El Paso Chihuahuas, storming back with a solo home run from Heliot Ramos in the seventh before a four-run rally in the eighth to capture a 7-3 victory on Wednesday.
The River Cats (6-5) threatened to score with their first at-bats of the contest, putting two aboard after Luis Matos was hit by a pitch and Marco Luciano drew his team-leading 10th walk of the season. However, Chihuahuas (6-5) starter Jay Groome, who was making his return from the injured list, was able to induce a pair of flyouts and a strikeout to escape without damage.
After a quick second inning, Groome made his exit to start the third in favor of Lake Bachar, who saw a one-out single from Matos and two-out double into the left-center gap break the scoreless tie in favor of the River Cats.
Not waiting long to respond, El Paso jumped in front during the away half of the fourth on one swing of the bat from Oscar Mercado. Following a single from Graham Pauley, who was making his Triple-A debut, Mercado belted an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left field that briefly put the Chihuahuas in front.
As quick as the lead came it disappeared, with Sacramento drawing level during their swings in the bottom half of the frame. A leadoff single from Casey Schmitt and a walk to Brett Wisely put two aboard for Jakson Reetz, who ripped a ball towards third base that was ruled an error, though scoring on the play was Schmitt to even the score at 2-2.
That run marked the start of six unanswered for the River Cats, with the next coming on the fourth big fly of the year for Ramos. Awaiting an 0-1 pitch, Ramos crushed the ball towards the right-center gap that landed on the grass just to the left of the bullpen area. It signaled the team-leading fourth home run of the year for Ramos, who as of this writing is third in the Pacific Coast League in home runs.
More insurance came during the home half of the eighth, starting with the fourth walk of the game to Wisely which made him the first River Cat this season and the first since Yoshi Tsutsugo (Sept. 21, 2023 at Salt Lake) to earn four free passes in a single game. An error forced another run home before a two-out rally consisted of a bases loaded walk to Ramos and a two-RBI single by Trenton Brooks made the score 7-2.
El Paso was able to muster a run in the top of the ninth, doing so on a single from Nate Mondou that scored Mercado, who had doubled with one out. That was the end for El Paso, as a line out and flyout brought an end to the contest.
Part of the reason the Chihuahuas were held off the scoreboard in the middle innings was due to Sacramento pitching, starting with Sean Hjelle who was making his first appearance with Sacramento on a rehab assignment. Though he only worked one inning, Hjelle only allowed one base runner which came when he hit a batter with a pitch and finished his line with a pair of strikeouts.
He then flipped the ball to Juan Sanchez (1-0), who did not allow a baserunner in his 2.0 clean innings of work while also punching out two. On for his second six-out save of the season was Spencer Bivens (2), who only allowed the run in the ninth while yielding two hits. Left with a no decision was starter Carson Seymour, who surrendered two runs on four hits in 4.0 frames.
Charged with the loss was Kevin Kopps (0-1), who allowed the home run to Ramos in the seventh while also walking one and striking out one.
In addition to his dinger, Ramos collected another pair of hits to close his afternoon 3-for-4, falling a triple shy of the cycle while also driving in three. Collecting another pair of RBI was Brooks thanks to his late single, ending 1-for-3 on the day.
The two teams sit even in the series heading into game three, with first pitch on Thursday set for 6:45 p.m. from Sutter Health Park.
Don't sleep on these prospects at Spring Breakout -- 1 from each team
The second edition of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 are slated to participate, including Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and
Meet the 14 women who run MiLB teams
From California to Massachusetts, from Arkansas to Iowa, leadership in professional baseball is evolving. Coming into the 2025 season, there are 14 women in general manager positions across Minor League Baseball. When most fans think of the GMs in baseball, they likely assume the job is all about building a
2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
From Spring Breakout to MLB? Here are nine players who could soon be in The Show
The inaugural Spring Breakout in 2024 provided a platform for fans to meet many of baseball's top prospects before they began standing out in the Majors shortly thereafter. Paul Skenes striking out Jackson Holliday. Jackson Chourio reaching twice and scoring a run. Jace Jung hitting a pair of homers.
Brewers' 17-year-old international signee draws comparisons to Chourio
PHOENIX – A farm system loses an elite-level prospect like Jackson Chourio, who was the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball at the start of the 2024 season, to the big leagues, it’s easy to understand that it would take a hit in this year’s farm system rankings. So don’t
Cubs have MLB stars AND loaded farm system
MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the
Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
New Rays prospect additions fitting right into the organizational mold
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Thirteen members of the Rays’ Top 30 prospect list weren’t in the organization at this time last year. Two arrived in the 2024 Draft, one was a 2025 international signee and a whopping 10 have come over in trades since last March. Normally with that level
Headlined by big-name bats, Mariners' system strong on pitching depth, too
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners placed fifth in MLB Pipeline's new farm system rankings, thanks in large part to their seven Top 100 Prospects. That total ties them with the Cubs for the most in baseball, and all seven of them are hitters. Don't get the impression that the organization
All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
The inaugural edition of Spring Breakout was a rousing success last year. Sixteen games showcased not only many of baseball's best prospects but also some of the most jaw-dropping tools in the Minors. Of the 10 best individual attributes we highlighted a year ago, nine belonged to players who reached
Boston's 'Core Four' hitting principles breeding prospect success
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Boston was built to be a shining city on a hill, according to John Winthrop. Four centuries later, the Hub’s top three baseball prospects are meant to be a shining example atop the Red Sox farm system. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer – the
Phils' teen catching prospect using ABS challenge experience to his advantage
CLEARWATER, Fla. – One of the storylines of Spring Training has been the implementation of the ABS challenge system in select ballparks across Arizona and Florida. But those in the Sunshine State might be a little more familiar with the tech than their southwestern counterparts. The Florida State League first
Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Ding, ding, who’s ready for Round 2? Last year’s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a
Yankees' prospect gains coming up long at short
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have a fascinating shortstop decision on their hands. You could say it’s the most interesting one since you-know-who retired in 2014. New York is battling going with a veteran presence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa or a prospect in Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. It’s still too
Mets looking for top prospects to complement veteran stars
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The last time Juan Soto played in a Minor League game was back in 2018, when in the span of 39 games at age 19 he went from A ball to High-A to Double-A and then to the big leagues with the Nationals and never
'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects