Sacramento Stops Skid Behind 7-2 Victory on Friday

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It took a true team effort for the Sacramento River Cats to stop their six-game losing streak, scoring early and often while the pitching kept the Round Rock Express in check, all resulting in a 7-2 victory for Sacramento on Friday.

Pitching was what set the tone for the River Cats (43-40), as Sacramento starter Hayden Birdsong (1-0) walked the first batter but then struck out the side to end the first and punched out the leadoff hitter to start the second. Small ball for the Express (36-36) manufactured a run in the third while a home run plated round Rock’s final run in the fifth, but otherwise Birdsong remained in control and finished his line with just the two runs allowed in five frames, striking out seven for a second straight start.

Meanwhile, the River Cats offense started its scoring in the second, doing so in non-traditional fashion as Donovan Walton earned an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded while a wild pitch forced another run home.

In the third it took two batters to add onto the lead, as Bishop was also hit by a pitch just in front of David Villar’s team-leading 12th homer of the season. Not only did that give Villar the sole team-lead in RBI with 46 but extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games.

A Marco Luciano double turned into a run in the fifth, trading places with on a two-bagger with David Villar for the latter’s second extra-base hit of the contest. Insurance continued to come through in the sixth, scoring twice on a two-RBI single from Luciano with the bases loaded.

With the scoring completed, on to finish off the game for Sacramento was the duo of Austin Warren and Tanner Andrews (S, 1). Warren entered first in the sixth as he continued his rehab assignment, making his second appearance with Sacramento and tossing a perfect frame with a strikeout.

Taking the baton last was Andrews, who went the final three innings for his first save of the campaign. Andrews allowed just one baserunner, a walk, but otherwise retired every other batter he faced and struck out a pair.

Luciano logged his first three-hit game since April 5 at Reno, while his double was his first extra-base hit since he also had a two-bagger on April 27 at home against Las Vegas. Villar also chipped in his two extra-base hits and finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, his second straight game driving in three runs, while Logan Porter went 2-for-4 and has earned a knock in all four games as a River Cat.

The River Cats will look to keep the momentum going in game five of the series on Saturday, with first pitch from Sutter Health Park at 6:37 p.m.