Three-Run Blasts in Extras Help Cats Outlast Express

ROUND ROCK, Tex. – After scoring once in the top of the eighth to get the game to extra frames, the Sacramento River Cats did what was needed to walk away victorious by blasting a pair of three-run homers, one from each David Villar and Trenton Brooks, to steal an 11-6 victory over the Round Rock Express in the series opener on Tuesday.

Following two runs in their first set of swings, doing so on RBI singles from Villar and Hunter Bishop, the River Cats (31-33/75-64) mostly went cold until later in the contest. In the time between, the Express (29-34/66-71) found a way to capture the lead as they countered with a Sam Huff RBI single in the bottom of the first and later jumped in front with a pair of runs in the fourth. A walk and single set up Matt Duffy for an RBI knock, while he later scored on a Blaine Crim RBI double.

It wasn’t until the eighth that the River Cats found a way to draw level, using three straight singles with the last coming from Villar to knot the contest at 3-3. That led to two free innings of baseball, which were arguably as action packed as the first nine.

Starting with the free runner on second base, Donovan Walton worked a walk and was later joined on base by Thairo Estrada on a fielder’s choice from a sacrifice bunt attempt. Despite a pop up and the River Cats being one out away from failing to capitalize, Villar stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with one swing by launching an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left field for his 16th homer of the season.

However, a Round Rock rally saw a pair of runs score following an error in the field by Sacramento, and then finally the game-tying run scamper home on a wild pitch.

Down but not out, the River Cats had runners at second and third as the free runner advanced on a Blake Sabol double, but once more Sacramento was looking at the chance of not capitalizing in the extra frame. That was, until Walton delivered a two-RBI single through the right side that put the River Cats on top for good. Two batters later and Sacramento tacked on insurance, as Brooks launched the second three-run homer in as many innings for the River Cats by smashing a 3-1 offering over the wall in right field.

Despite being credited with his second blown save, Kolton Ingram (3-2) captured his third win of the season after he ended with a final line of 1.0 inning worked with a pair of strikeouts. Shutting the door last was Evan Gates, who had a clean 11th inning to get Sacramento its third straight win. Starting for the River Cats was southpaw Carson Whisenhunt, who took a no decision after yielding three runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Four different River Cats had a multi-hit game, including a three-knock effort from Villar as he earned an RBI on all three hits to end his night with five total. Meanwhile, Brooks had the big homer in extra frames to earn three RBI, and Blake Sabol was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double.

Both teams will be back in action for game two on Wednesday at 5:05 p.m. (PT).