Kitties Kept in Check by Express, 6-3

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Trying to create a new winning streak, the Sacramento River Cats fell just short of that goal as the Round Rock Express took an early lead that they never relented, finishing off a 6-3 win on Saturday.

The Express (36-35) scored all six of their runs prior to the River Cats (43-31) reaching the scoreboard, starting with a three-spot in the first inning against Sacramento starter Kai-Wei Teng (0-3). Five straight one-out hits did all the damage, with a pair of runs scoring on a Sam Huff double while Dustin Harris drove in Huff with an RBI single through the right side.

Round Rock tacked on in the sixth, as back-to-back singles had runners at the corners before the first scored on an RBI ground out from Sandro Fabian. In the seventh they scored their final runs, plating two on a two-run homer from Justin Foscue, his first homer in his third rehab appearances with the Express.

Sacramento managed to avoid a shutout with three runs in the home half of the seventh, as Grant McCray was hit by a pitch to reach base and later scored on a wild pitch. Following shortly after, Donovan Walton singled through the left side to drive in a run while Logan Porter earned his first Sacramento RBI on a single into left field. For Porter, he has logged a hit in all five games as a River Cat.

Charged with the loss was Teng, who slightly lowered his ERA after allowing only three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. The only River Cats to toss a scoreless outing on the night was Justin Garza, who worked the final 1.1 innings without allowing a base runner while striking out three of his four batters faced.

Auerbach and Walton each went 2-for-4 while scoring a run, combing for four of Sacramento’s six hits. The other two belonged to Porter and Jerar Encarnacion, both of which were 1-for-4 though Porter also had the RBI.

This officially handed Sacramento its first series loss at home in 2024, as they were 6-0-1 (win-loss-split) in their first seven series at Sutter Health Park. The last time they had gone at least seven series at home without a loss was the 2014 when they were 6-0-2 at home before dropping their first series.

Sunday marks the end of the first half to the PCL season, and Sacramento will look to finish on a high note in the series finale against the Express at 1:05 p.m. (PT).