Big First Inning Sets Sacramento Back, Fall 11-5 to Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY – A pair of big innings early ensured the Sacramento River Cats did not get back into the win column, as the Salt Lake Bees cruised their way to an 11-5 win in game three of their series on Thursday.

All six runs in the first were allowed by River Cats (28-32/72-63) starter Carson Ragsdale (2-4), though only two were earned and they were the first two batters of the frame as Cole Tucker Walked while Kyren Paris launched a homer in a 2-1 count. Immediately following the Bees (31-29/63-71) used three straight singles to load the bases, eventually taking advantage of an error and scoring three more runs through the rest of the inning.

That led to Ragsdale getting chased from the game early, lasting a season-low 0.2 innings pitched, his shortest outing at any level in 2024.

Sacramento turned in a bit of offense in the second thanks to David Villar, as he hit his first home run at the Triple-A level since he hit a pair in consecutive games on July 11-12. Hunter Bishop immediately singled, but was ultimately left on base.

Keeping their foot on the gas, Salt Lake plated four more runs in the home half of the third with the first scoring on a double from Elliot Soto that scored Bryce Teodosio, who had started the inning with a single. After a stolen base and walk put runners at the corners, a Tucker double into center brought both runs home to push the lead to 10-1.

In the fifth was when the River Cats put up their best frame of the night, scoring three times with the first via a Christian Koss RBI single up the middle. Later it was Wade Meckler blasting his fifth homer of the season, crushing a two-run shot out to right field on a 3-1 pitch.

Both teams countered with a run in their final at-bats, as the Bees saw Eric Wagaman continue his hot streak with a home run to left-center against Donovan Walton, while a Blake Sabol double in the ninth eventually scored on a Koss groundout.

Ragsdale was charged with the loss, his second of the year after allowing the six first inning runs on six hits and striking out only one. Only Drew Strotman and Kolton Ingram worked scoreless outings, the former going 2.2 innings while the latter lasted 1.1 frames.

Three River Cats had multi-hit games in Villar, Bishop and Walton, the former of which doing his damage on his solo homer while Walton doubled and scored once. Also doubling was Blake Sabol, who was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored.

Both teams will be back in action for game four on Friday at 5:35 p.m. (PT).