Sky Sox stun River Cats late, take game 9-6

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento River Cats (18-28) fell 9-6 to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (19-22) Tuesday night, ending their brief two-game win streak. The River Cats were leading heading into the eighth inning, but gave up four runs in the top of the frame, blowing the late lead.

For the second night in a row, a fan-favorite made his appearance in Sacramento. Hometown hero Andrew Susac played in his first game for the River Cats since April 26, going 2-for-4 while driving in a key run with an RBI-single in the fifth inning. In three games with San Jose before being transferred, Susac was 4-for-11 (.364) with a double and two RBI.

Left fielder Mac Williamson continued his hot hitting Tuesday night, going 2-for-5 while hitting his sixth home run of the year, a 397-foot moon shot to left. Over his last six games, Williamson is hitting .360 (9-for-25) with six of the team's 22 RBI. For the year, he is hitting 298 with 26 RBI, second among current River Cats (Grant Green, 27).

The River Cats offense as a whole did their job tonight, recording 12 hits and scoring in five consecutive innings for the first time this season. Despite leaving 11 runners on base, Sacramento finished a more-than-serviceable 4-for-12 (.333) with runners in scoring position.

Centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez and second baseman Ramiro Pena, the one-two hitters for Sacramento tonight, went 5-for-9 collectively, each scoring a run and adding an RBI. For Pena, it was his 13th multi-hit game of the season while Hernandez added his eighth stolen base and sixth double.

Matt Lujan got the start for the River Cats tonight, his seventh of the season, and went four innings while allowing three earned runs, two of which came off home runs. The long ball has plagued Lujan all season - he's now allowed six this year, five at home. A Stockton native, Lujan is still looking for his first win of the season despite allowing six earned runs in his last 13 innings pitched.

Even with Williamson's home run, Sacramento now falls to 15-13 when going yard. The River Cats had been 10-1 when scoring six or more runs and have now scored five or more runs for just the third time in their last 10 games.

Game three of this series will be a 12:05 p.m. matinee. Clayton Blackburn (1-3, 5.51) will make his first start since May 8 against Colorado Springs' Jorge Lopez (1-2, 6.11). First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. and the game can be heard live online at rivercats.com and on ESPN 1320 following the conclusion of NBA basketball.

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The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants. The team plays at Raley Field in West Sacramento, consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2016 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.