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Baseball, Sacramento River Cats

River Cats and Aces Seesaw but Reno Nabs Final Tally

Luciano, Wisely and Diaz Earn RBI Each

By: Jake Ward

Featured Photo by : Shawn Jonas

RENO, Nev. –  The Sacramento River Cats and the Reno Aces traded shots in the middle innings of the series finale of their six-game set, but it was Reno that had the last laugh to split the series as they secured a 6-4 victory on Sunday.

Luciano’s RBI Double in the 3rd inning

For a second straight game the River Cats (5-4) scored first but were unable to keep the lead, breaking the scoreless tie in the third with a two-out RBI double from Marco Luciano that scored Donovan Walton, who had reached with a walk. The Aces (5-3) answered with their swings in the bottom half in a similar fashion as a leadoff walk came around to score on an RBI single from Pavin Smith. 

Ramos’ Single in the 4th
Brett Wisely’s RBI Single in the 4th inning

To start the fourth the River Cats pulled back in front thanks to Brett Wisely, as he singled into left center that scored Heliot Ramos from second who had reached with a single of his own before advancing on a walk to Casey Schmitt.

It took an inning for the Aces to respond, but they did so with a trio of runs in the home half of the fifth on the strength of doubles from Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Garlick and a pair of free passes.

Yusniel Diaz’s RBI Single in the 6th

Trailing by two, Sacramento found a way to knot the game once again in the away half of the sixth with a rally started when Jakson Reetz was hit by a pitch and Wisely was issued a walk. Reetz did not wait long as he immediately came around to score on an RBI single to left center by Yusniel Diaz, while Wisley scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Walton. 

Walton’s Sacrifice Fly brings Wisely into score

The lead only lasted a half inning, as Reno responded with two of their own in the bottom of the sixth that was kicked off by a Sacramento error. Consecutive singles from Jancarlos Cintron, Barrosa and Almora Jr. resulted in both of the runs, and the inning was kept from getting worse when Barrosa was thrown out at third and gave Sacramento a way out of the frame.

Down but not out, the River Cats loaded the bases back-to-back walks to Heliot Ramos and Schmitt, finally filling when Reetz was hit by a pitch for a second time. Despite having the opportunity to take the lead, one of the year’s most clutch hitters Wisely was unable to capitalize and left them loaded.

After taking over for starter Spencer Howard, who allowed two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts, RJ Dabovich (0-1) was charged with the loss as he was tagged for four runs (three earned) in his only frame of work.

Keeping the River Cats in the game down the stretch was the trio of Justin Garza, Randy Rodriguez and Cody Stashak, who each combined on 2.0 scoreless innings with only two hits allowed.

Picking up the win for Reno was Blake Walston (1-0), who entered after the recently signed Joran Montgomery who was still ramping up for the Diamondbacks’ regular season. Walston went 2.2 innings and two earned runs on only one hit with four walks and two strikeouts. Down the stretch, Francisco Morales earned a hold with a clean 1.1. innings while Justin Martinez collected his second save of the campaign with a perfect ninth. 

All four Sacramento hits came from different bats, with the trio of Luciano (1-for-5, double), Wisely (1-for-3, run) and Diaz (1-for-3) responsible for most and an RBI each. 

Having completed their first six-game series with a split, the River Cats will now return home for their first six-game set at Sutter Health Park beginning on Tuesday against the El Paso Chihuahuas with first pitch at 6:45 p.m.

Sacramento River Cats

Sacramento Suffers First Road Loss at Hands of Reno

Luciano Records Second Three-Hit Game of Season

Luciano Single in the 1st inning

By : Jake Ward (River Cats Media Relations)

RENO, Nev. – All good things must come to an end, and so did the unblemished road record for the Sacramento River Cats as they were handed a 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Reno Aces in game four of their series on Friday.

Whisenhunt gets the strikeout in the 2nd inning.

The Aces (3-3) took the advantage early with their swings in the first by getting to River Cats (5-2) starter Carson Whisenhunt (0-1) for a pair of runs on the strength of four singles, with the latter two RBI singles from Tristin English and Alber Almora Jr. that came with two outs in the frame.

Two innings later Reno added onto its lead, doing so with one swing of the bat thanks to Kevin Newman who hit the first pitch of the third over the wall in right to make it 3-0. Continuing the offense, the Aces tacked on three more in the fourth after an error at shortstop in front of a Jancarlos Cintron single set the stage for a three-run homer by Jorge Barrosa to left center. 

After a final strikeout, Whisenhunt exited the contest in favor of right-hander Daulton Jefferies, who kept the Aces off the board for most of his 4.1 innings except for the sixth. Consecutive singles to open the frame put a pair on, allowing Barrosa and Jose Herrera to each collect an RBI with their own base knocks. Later in the inning, the final run of the frame on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Garlick. 

Walton’s Single in the 3rd inning

Sacramento prevented the shutout with a run in the top of the seventh, scoring once on a double play ball by last night’s winning pitcher, Donovan Walton. The inning was poised to be much larger than just a single run, with Blake Sabol drawing a walk to lead off while Yusniel Diaz followed immediately with a single. Another walk, this time to Ismael Munguia, loaded the bases, until Walton’s double play traded one run for two outs leaving a final line out by Luis Matos to end the inning.

Whisenhunt was charged with the loss after allowing the first runs of his Triple-A career, yielding six (five earned) on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. Jefferies went the rest of the 4.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits with two walks and four punchouts.

On the other side, Reno starter Cristian Mesa (2-0) made it into the seventh inning. He eventually left after 6.0+ innings while allowing just the one run on five hits, though he walked three and struck out only two.

Luciano Single in the 8th inning

Pacing Sacramento at the plate was Marco Luciano, who was 3-for-4 on the night which included a single that came off the bat at 106.0 mph in the top of the first. Each game that Luciano has tallied a hit has been a multi-hit effort, as he now has four multi-hit games including a pair of contests with three base knocks. Also collecting hits were Matos (1-for-4, double), Diaz (1-for-3), and Walton (1-for-3). 

Mattos Double in the 5th inning

Both teams will return to the field of Greater Nevada Field for game five of this series on Saturday, with first pitch at 4:05 p.m.