Pair of Ninth Inning Runs Clinch Sacramento Win and Series Split

SALT LAKE CITY – An early lead disappeared but the Sacramento River Cats responded with a pair of runs in their final chance at the dish, scoring twice in the top of the ninth to snatch a 7-5 win over the Salt Lake Bees on Sunday.

Three of the four runs for the River Cats (30-33/74-64) in the second scored on one swing of the bat from Blake Sabol, as he unloaded on a 1-2 pitch and sent it over the wall in right field. That came after the first run of the game had scored, as Christian Koss crossed the plate on a Brett Auerbach single.

Not only did the Bees (32-31/64-73) counter, but they did also so slowly over the next three innings and eventually took their one and only lead of the game in the sixth. Salt Lake started with a run in each the second and third, the former in the form of Eric Wagaman crossing the plate on a groundout following his triple, while Gustao Campero chipped in an RBI single in the third.

During the fourth it took two batters to draw the game level, as a Wagaman walk preceded the first Triple-A home run from Tucker Flint, as he hammered a 3-1 pitch out to left field that made the score 4-4.

Salt Lake eventually grabbed the lead in the sixth on a Shane Matheny single, scoring Chad Wallach who had worked a free pass to start the frame. However, this time it was the River Cats who quickly countered when a Will Wilson double turned into a run on a David Villar sacrifice fly.

That led the contest to the ninth where a late rally sent Sacramento home as winners. With one out and two on, Villar came up clutch yet again as he drove in one while Bishop later added another RBI single for an insurance tally.

Slamming the door in the ninth was Kolton Ingram (S, 3), working his third save by striking out the side in the ninth. That preserved the victory for Clay Helvey (6-5), who had entered in relief and lasted 2.0 innings with two hits allowed and two strikeouts.

Tops among the River Cats at the dish was Koss, who ended his day 3-for-5 with a run scored while the quartet of Bishop, Auerbach, Sabol, and Wilson all had a pair of hits. Only two of those eight hits went for extra bases, the double from Wilson and the home run from Sabol.

Only 12 games remain on the schedule for Sacramento, and they play the next six in Texas as they travel to Round Rock to take on the Express beginning on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. (PT).