Late Lead Falls as Bees Steal Win from Cats

SALT LAKE CITY – Steady scoring led to the Sacramento River Cats to hold a lead entering the ninth on Wednesday, but a late run from the Salt Lake Bees forced extras where a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th handed Sacramento a 7-6 defeat.

The River Cats (28-31/72-62) scored once in each of the first two frames, taking their first lead in the top of the first thanks to a walk to Wade Meckler and a pair of singles, the latter of which came from Trenton Brooks for an RBI. In the second, Christian Koss did it with one swing as he launched his fourth of the season in solo fashion to double the Sacramento lead.

Countering in the home half of the second were the Bees (30-29/62-71), loading the bases with three straight hits including a bunt single. Following was a fourth consecutive knock when Bryce Teodosio lined a a two-RBI double, with a third run scoring on the play due to a throwing error.

A pair of sacrifice flies, one in the fourth and one in the fifth, helped the River Cats reclaim the lead as the game moved into its final stages. For a third straight inning the River Cats found a way to score, plating two in the top of the sixth after an error on a sacrifice bunt allowed two runners to cross the plate. Scoring on the play was Hunter Bishop, who had been hit by a pitch to start the inning, as well as Donovan Walton had had singled immediately after Bishop.

Sacramento starter Carson Whisenhunt worked into the sixth but ran into a jam prior to exiting in favor of Ryan Watson, who couldn’t strand the inherited runners as he allowed a double to former River Cats Shane Matheny that scored a pair and once more brought the Bees within one.

That score held into the ninth when Tyler Myrick entered for the River Cats looking for the save, as Myrick could not remain perfect in save opportunities after a pair of one-out walks saw the first come around to score on an RBI single from Eric Wagaman. For Myrick, he is now 6-for-7 in save opportunities.

In the top of the 10th the River Cats saw their inning come to an end after only two batters, as they aimed to play small ball by moving the free runner to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Knapp. However, Bishop’s sacrifice fly turned out to be just short, as Trenton Brooks was thrown out at home plate trying to score by right fielder Jordyn Adams.

That gave the Bees the momentum to find the winning run in the bottom of the 10th, with Chad Wallach delivering the game-winning RBI single on the first pitch he saw in the game after entering as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning.

Saddled with the loss was Clay Helvey (5-5), allowing the game-winning unearned run in just 0.1 innings. Only two River Cats runed in scoreless outings in Justin Garza (1.0) and Ryan Watson (1.2).

Three River Cats had multi-hit nights including Wade Meckler, Donovan Walton and Koss, the latter of which had both of his knocks go for extra bases thanks to his homer and a double. Brooks was the only other to record an official RBI, closing his game 1-for-4.

Both teams will look to gain an edge in the series when they meet for game three on Thursday, with first pitch at 5:35 p.m. (PT).