High-Scoring Affair Ends in Favor of Sacramento, 14-12

RENO, Nev. – The series opener between the Sacramento River Cats and the Reno Aces was a slugfest, as both teams kept scoring until the final frame with the River Cats coming out on the winning end by a 14-12 final.

Both teams struck with a three-run homer early in the contest, starting with the Aces (30-34) in the home half of the first from Kyle Garlick. It was Garlick’s team-leading 15th homer, tied for fourth in Triple-A. Meanwhile, the River Cats countered with their own from Luis Matos, his fourth of the campaign that just cleared the wall in right field off starter Konnor Pilkington.

After a quiet fourth, Sacramento seemed to take ahold of the contest with a seven-run fifth inning, their most runs in any inning this season. The seven tallies were broken into a pair of home runs, the first from David Villar as he hit his team high-tying ninth homer of the campaign. It scored both Matos and Marco Luciano, with the former singling while the later walked just prior.

Later in the frame it was Jakson Reetz, who struck big by launching the second Sacramento grand slam of the season, joining Tyler Fitzgerald who did so on May 21 at El Paso. Sitting in a 2-1 count, Reetz demolished the offering deep over the wall in left-center, traveling over 400 feet and leaving the bat at 105.3 mph. Including his pair of grand slams just two games apart last season on July 28 and 30, 2023, Reetz became the fifth River Cat since 2005 to hit three grand slams as a River Cat (also: Michael Taylor, Anthony Recker, Scott McClain, Daric Barton).

However, the Sacramento lead slowly slipped away as Reno pushed across three runs in the bottom of the fifth, which including the first homer of the year for Jordan Lawlar in solo fashion, while Deyvison De Los Santos also had an RBI double. Later in the seventh the Aces took advantage of four straight free passes, with a run scoring on a walk before consecutive hits by Lawlar and Adrian Del Castillo knotted the contest.

Originally entering the game as a defensive replacement, Donovan Walton came through in the clutch with a two-RBI double in the eighth, part of a four-run frame for Sacramento that provided them the lead for good. Later in the frame the duo of Matos and Fitzgerald each lined two-out RBI singles for crucial insurance runs.

On for the bottom of the ninth was Spencer Bivens, PCL Pitcher of the Month in May, who entered in a non-save situation and allowed a pair of runs before finally finishing off the contest for Sacramento’s 40th win of the campaign. Those were the first runs allowed by Bivens in 11 games dating back to May 1, snapping an 18.2 scoreless-inning streak.

Taking the win was Nick Garcia (2-0), who allowed all three of his inherited runners to score but did not yield a run of his own, going 1.1 inning with two hits and a strikeout. Right-hander Clay Helvey tossed a scoreless outing of his own, working the fifth and sixth innings with only one hit allowed and four strikeouts.

Luis Matos had four RBI in the contest, the first Sacramento four-RBI game since Casey Schmitt did so on May 23 at home against El Paso. It was also the first time Matos had driven in four runs since he had five RBI in his season debut on April 3.

Among the numerous offensive highlights was the Triple-A debut of Grant McCray, who logged an infield single on the first pitch he saw in the third inning. He went on to finish the contest 1-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk from the ninth spot in the lineup.

Sacramento’s win, combined with a Sugar Land loss to Oklahoma City, means the River Cats have moved just one game back of a first half title. They’ll continue their pursuit in game two of the series with Reno tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. (PT).