Cats Tied Late but Suffer Second Consecutive Walk-Off Loss

RENO, Nev. – A pair of runs in the top of the sixth leveled the contest between the Sacramento River Cats and Reno Aces, but for a second straight night Reno used an RBI single to walk-off as winners, stealing a 4-3 final on Friday.

Jumping out to the early edge were the Aces (10-1/45-51), scoring once in the first and second frames against the River Cats (3-8/47-39). A walk and balk set up an RBI double from Andres Chaparro for the game’s first run, while Tristin English drove in himself when he hit a solo homer on a 3-0 offering.

Later in the fourth Sacramento broke onto the scoreboard, as a Casey Schmitt double led to him scoring on a sacrifice fly from Jerar Encarnacion just two batters later. Unfortunately, the Aces took the run back in the home half of the fifth when Adrian Del Castillo started the frame with his 17th homer of the year that just snuck over the wall in right field.

Showing their grit, the River Cats pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth that brough the game level once more. Marco Luciano worked a free pass and advanced on a balk, scoring on an Encarnacion single. Up next was Logan Porter, who returned the favor to Encarnacion by hitting a double to right center that easily scored Encarnacion from first.

That score held all the way until the bottom of the ninth, when for a second straight evening Chaparro provided the game-winning hit in walk-off fashion. Tonight, he shot a ball through the hole on the left side that scored Albert Almora Jr. for the 4-3 win.

After winning each of their first three, Sacramento has now lost four straight walk-off contests with each of the last three coming at the hands of the Reno Aces. The first came on June 15 by a 7-6 final while last night on July 4 was an 8-7 decision.

Tonight marked the seventh straight loss for the River Cats, a new season high and the most since they also dropped seven straight last season from July 8-13, 2023. Additionally, Sacramento has now lost eight consecutive games to the Aces.

Charged with the loss was right-hander Cody Stashak (1-2), who allowed the winning run on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in 0.2 innings. Meanwhile, Carson Ragsdale drew the start and struck out five while walking four and allowing three runs on five hits in 4.2 frames of work.

Both Tanner Andrews and Austin Warren tossed scoreless outings, with the former going 1.1 innings without a hit while the latter tossed 1.2 innings with three hits allowed and two punchouts.

Seven different River Cats recorded a hit, all led by the 2-for-4 effort from Grant McCray as he logged his second two-double game thus far with the River Cats. Driving in two of the three runs was Encarnacion, while both Schmitt and Porter logged doubles that resulted in runs.

This six-game series with Reno comes to an end on Saturday night, and the River Cats will look to avoid being swept when the two teams take the field at 6:35 p.m. (PT).