Cats Crush Four Homers, 11 Extra-Base Hits in 13-6 Win Over Bees

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Just one night after being shutout, the Sacramento River Cats made sure it did not happen again as they unleashed 13 runs on a season best 19 hits, all culminating in a 13-6 win over the Salt Lake Bees on Wednesday.

From the get-go the River Cats (9-5/45-44) had the offense in gear, scoring four times in the first that included a two-RBI double from Daniel Johnson and an RBI Hunter Bishop triple. However, the Bees (5-9/34-54) quickly drew close by scoring three times in the home half of the inning, including a two-run homer from Tucker Flint.

From that point forward it was mostly Sacramento, tallying five-more run scoring frames which include three-spots in the third and sixth innings. Hits were aplenty as the River Cats totaled 13 runs on 19 hits, the latter of which was their season best.

Five different River Cats finished with a three-hit effort, which included Hunter Bishop as he closed his night 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, two triples, and three RBI. After his three-bagger in the first, Bishop logged another in his second at-bat during the third inning, marking his second two-triple game of the year after also doing so on June 12 against Tacoma. That first contest made him the eighth River Cat since 2005 to hit two triples in a single game, but he is now the first River Cat since 2005 to log multiple games with two or more triples.

Coming in Sacramento’s final big inning during the sixth was more excitement, as Grant McCray hit a fly ball into left field that was never seen by the Bees’ Matthew Lugo, eventually flying over his head and allowing Tyler Fitzgerald and McCray to speed around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park homer. It was just the 14th inside-the-park homer for Sacramento since the start of 2005, and ironically is the first since Fitzgerald himself hit an inside-the-park dinger to leadoff a contest at Reno on June 15, 2024.

That was one of three hits for McCray, who was also 3-for-5 but scored once with three RBI while falling a double shy of the cycle. Osleivis Basabe was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, two doubles and a homer, and each of his five hits in the series have gone for extra bases (four doubles, one homer). Last but not least was Logan Porter, who joined the homer party and was 3-for-4 with a trio of RBI.

Sacramento finished the contest with a season best 11 homers, just the 10th time since the start of the 2005 campaign that Sacramento has logged 11 hits for extra bases in a single game. Sacramento’s three triples in the game represented their new season high, while they hit four homers for the third time this season to match their season best.

Collecting the win was starter Juan Mercedes (2-5), who struck out five without a walk but did allow five runs on six hits. Of those six hits, two were home runs which made him the first River Cat since at least 2005 to allow two or more homers in four consecutive games.

Three different Sacramento relievers tossed scoreless outings including right-hander Braxton Roxby, who has tossed three run-free outings (3.1 innings) with Sacramento while lowering his combined ERA in the 2025 season to 1.08 over 25 games between Triple-A and Double-A.

This victory evened up the series between the two teams, with both sides looking to gain an advantage when they meet again at 6:05 p.m. (PT) on Thursday.