Sacramento Outlasts Tacoma on Wednesday, 8-5

TACOMA, Wash. – Both sides went back and forth with offense on Wednesday, but despite sitting in a 5-3 hole after the fourth inning, the Sacramento River Cats rebounded with five unanswered runs for an 8-5 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers in game two of their series.

Both sides were matching scoring in the early goings, as the River Cats (20-27/64-58) struck first with a pair of tallies in the second inning thanks to a double from David Villar and sacrifice fly from Hunter Bishop, but the Rainiers (28-19/71-51) initially responded in the home half with a solo homer from former River Cat Jason Vosler.

Sacramento managed just one run in the third, which was Wade Meckler turning an inning-opening double into a run on a Luis Matos sacrifice fly. However, it was no match for a trio of runs from Tacoma, forcing across three after Samad Taylor crushed a two-run blast and Vosler later tripled wit two outs.

Tacoma kept adding on with a run in the fourth, using the opening three batters of the frame to do so which culminated with a Duke Ellis RBI single through the left side.

Down but not out, the River Cats started their comeback with two runs in the fifth, putting runners at the corners just in front of a Luis Matos single for the first marker. After a wild pitch moved another pair into scoring position and Trenton Brooks drew a walk, David Villar earned an RBI on a groundout that level the contest at 5-5.

The comeback was completed in the top of the sixth, jumping in front for good when a Christian Koss single scored Blake Sabol, who had originally reached on a fielder’s choice.

Insurance was added in the top of the ninth for good measure, as Matos hammered a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left field for his 11th homer of the season, while a Marco Luciano triple resulted in a run in the very next at-bat thanks to a Bishop two-bagger.

All nine River Cats that came to the dish walked away with at least one hit, four of which had multi-hit games consisting of Matos, Bishop, Luciano and Koss. Only Bishop had an extra-base hit among that group, while the trio of Meckler, Villar, and Brooks all added a double.

From the bump, starter Trevor McDonald yielded season-highs in runs (five) and walks (three) with season-lows in innings pitched (3.0) and strikeouts (two), and did not factor into the decision. Instead, five River Cats combined to keep the Rainiers off the scoreboard with the victory going to Camilo Doval (1-0), his first since Sept. 2, 2021 against Salt Lake. Doval had the longest outing of all relievers, going 1.2 innings with two strikeouts while facing the minimum.

On last was Austin Warren (S, 1), who converted his first save in his second opportunity by tossing a clean ninth inning with one strikeout.

The two teams are now tied at a game apiece, and both will look to take an advantage in this series when they line up for game three at Cheney Stadium beginning at 7:05 p.m. (PT).