Three-Run Lead Slips as Kitties Drop Sixth Straight
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Once again, the Sacramento River Cats staked an early lead in their contest against the Round Rock Express, leading 3-0 after the first. However, Sacramento watched the contest slip away as five unanswered by Round Rock resulted in a 5-3 decision on Thursday. It took just
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Once again, the Sacramento River Cats staked an early lead in their contest against the Round Rock Express, leading 3-0 after the first. However, Sacramento watched the contest slip away as five unanswered by Round Rock resulted in a 5-3 decision on Thursday.
It took just three batters for the River Cats (42-30) to snatch the advantage, as Luis Matos singled while Hunter Bishop walked, and both immediately scored on a big fly from David Villar. That homer was not just the team-leading 11th of the year for Villar, but it also extended his hitting streak out to a season-long 10 games.
Despite the early lead, Sacramento starter Mason Black (2-4) couldn’t hold the edge as he was tagged for four runs in the third by the Express (36-35). The inning consisted of RBI doubles from Andrew Knapp and Jax Biggers and a triple by Jonathan Ornelas, while the fourth crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
That score held until the seventh when Round Rock added an insurance run, which came in the form of a solo home run from Knapp that marked his 11th of the season. That dinger came against Evan Gates, who was making his Triple-A debut with the River Cats and retired two Major League hitters in Justin Foscue and Josh Jung on one pitch each before surrendering the homer.
Try as they might, the River Cats failed to plate another run, which included the eighth when Bishop started the frame with a double that snapped a streak of 12 straight retired by Express pitchers.
Black took the loss, his fourth of the season, after he allowed four runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings. Meanwhile, both Raymond Burgos and Nick Garcia tossed scoreless outings for Sacramento, combing on four run-free frames with only one hit allowed (Burgos) and three strikeouts (all Burgos).
At the dish, all eight Sacramento hits came from different bats, though none did more damage than Villar with his three-run shot. Bishop doubled once and scored, while Logan Porter also doubled, and Matos crossed the plate once.
The River Cats will need to win all three remaining games in the series to avoid their first series loss at home, which starts with game four tomorrow at 6:45 p.m. (PT) from Sutter Health Park.