PCL Sacramento River Cats

­River Cats Blow Lead, but Rally in Ninth for 11-7 Victory Over Las Vegas

August 12, 2023 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Sacramento River Cats pulled even in their series with the Las Vegas Aviators on Friday night at Las Vegas Ballpark. The River Cats saw the Aviators tie the game on a pinch-hit home run in the eighth and went on to score six runs in the ninth in an 11-7 victory to level their series with Las Vegas at two games apiece.

For a second straight night, Wade Meckler opened the scoring with an RBI single in the top of the second, scoring Brett Wisely who'd singled earlier in the frame and giving the River Cats a 1-0 lead.

Sacramento widened its lead with a big third inning in which they flexed some home run power. With two on and one out, Joey Bart drove a three-run homer out to straight away center field to give make it a 4-0 ballgame.

The Aviators got on the board in the third when Carlos Perez drove in Tyler Wade with a single lined off the wall to left field. Later in the inning, Perez would score on a dropped fly ball by Wisely in left field that would've been the final out of the inning as the Aviators cut the River Cats lead to 5-2 with that unearned run.

Those were the only two runs allowed by Sacramento starter Mason Black, who was rendered a no-decision after going five innings and allowing four hits while walking four and striking out five.

The Aviators inched closer with a run in the sixth as River Cats reliever Raymond Burgos issued a leadoff walk to Conner Capel, who would later score on a two-out RBI single by Tyler Wade to make it 5-3. It was the only run allowed by Burgos in his lone inning of work.

After Sacramento failed to score with runners at the corners and one out in the top of the eighth, the Aviators would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth on a pinch-hit two-run homer by Kevin Smith. Smith's home run came off Chris Wright (2-1), who would end up picking up the victory after Sacramento's big top of the ninth.

Chad Smith (0-3) came on to pitch the ninth for Las Vegas and surrendered a leadoff home run to David Villar that gave the River Cats the lead back at 6-5. Two batters later, Wisely singled and then Alvarez and Meckler drew back-to-back walks that loaded the bases. Ricardo Genoves came up and hit a tapper to first that Trenton Brooks fielded. Brooks came home with the throw, but it was off-line and went to the backstop as two runs scored. Bryce Johnson came up next and hit an RBI single to left to make it 9-5, and Tyler Fitzgerald followed with a two-run double, capping a 4-for-5 night and making it an 11-5 River Cats lead.

Smith suffered the loss as he allowed six runs (five earned) in a third of an inning.

Nick Avila would work the ninth for Sacramento and surrender two runs (one earned), as both runs scored on an RBI single by Yohel Pozo.

With the series tied, the River Cats and Aviators play the fifth game of their series on Saturday night at Las Vegas Ballpark. Kai-Wei Teng (2-4, 3.72 ERA) makes the start for Sacramento, opposed by left-hander Kyle Muller (2-3, 6.79 ERA) for Las Vegas. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 12, 2023


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