Cats Claim Fourth Straight Thanks to Wild Pitch

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Tonight’s matchup between the Sacramento River Cats and Albuquerque Isotopes followed a similar script as the series opener, with each team scoring twice and taking a tie game into the eighth before a wild pitch gave Sacramento its third four-game winning streak of the season behind a 2-0 final on Wednesday.

The scoring started thanks to the Isotopes (17-42) in the third inning, plating a pair thanks to a two-run homer from Nolan Jones as he continued his rehab assignment. It was one of two hits on the night for Jones, the other of which was a double in the first before being left stranded on base.

It took only three batters in the sixth for the River Cats (36-23) to counter, as Hunter Bishop was hit by a pitch and then moved into scoring position on a double from Brett Auerbach. For Auerbach, four of his past seven hits have been for extra bases (two triples, one double, one homer). That set up Blake Sabol with a prime RBI opportunity, delivering in the clutch with a two-RBI single down the left-field line that reset the score at 2-2.

In a game that featured no errors, one mistake proved to be the difference as Sacramento put pressure on the Isotopes in the home half of the eighth inning with a two-out rally. Following a strikeout and flyout, a walk to Savol and a double from Jakson Reetz once more had a pair in scoring position.

The next batter, Donovan Walton, was intentionally walked for Albuquerque to face Brandon Martorano with the game on the line. However, a wild pitch from Isotopes pitcher Geoff Hartlieb (2-1) allowed Sabol to scamper home as the deciding run, resulting in the same score from Tuesday’s series opener at 3-2.

Sacramento’s bullpen was on point in the contest, as the trio of Reggie Crawford, Wil Jensen and Justin Garza (4-1) combined on four innings to not allow a run. The stretch started with Crawford who worked a perfect sixth by punching out two and facing the minimum, while Jensen went 1.2 frames with only one hit allowed and a pair of strikeouts.

On last was Garza, worked out of a jam in the top of the eighth and returned for the ninth to earn his fourth win of the season. He finished his line without allowing a hit and struck out the final batter as a punctuation point to end the contest.

Reetz was the only River Cat to tally multiple hits, highlighted by his double, while Auerbach also logged a two-bagger for his only knock. Meanwhile, Sabol was responsible for the two River Cats RBI and also reached with a walk.

Thursday will see the River Cats attempt to earn a series split as well as their fourth consecutive victory, and the action gets underway from Sutter Health Park beginning at 6:45 p.m. (PT).