River Cats Stymied by Bees, 4-1

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Four of the game’s five runs were scored during the final two innings, but unfortunately the majority went against the Sacramento River Cats as the Salt Lake Bees scored once early and added insurance late for a 4-1 at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday.

Though two innings neither team could score, but the Bees (8-9) were able to force a run on a groundout in the third. With runners at first and second, a groundball hit to third base turned into a fielder’s choice with no out recorded when Brett Wisely hesitated in tagging an advancing runner, then delivered a throw to first base too late.

Now with the bases loaded, the River Cats (9-8) nearly escaped with a. double play ball, but Gustavo Campero beat the throw to first which allowed the run to score.

That was the only run allowed by Sacramento starter Carson Seymour (0-1), who also allowed just one hit in the contest which was a new season-low for the Kansas State product. Unfortunately, he was saddled with the loss despite striking out five without issuing a walk, the fifth time a River Cats starter has done so this season which leads the Pacific Coast League.

The 1-0 score lasted from the third all the way until the eighth, which was partly due to a pair of perfect frames from Sean Hjelle. He faced the minimum six batters and struck out three and then handed the baton to Antonio Jimenez who struck out two and walked one in one inning.

Insurance was added by Salt Lake in both the eighth and ninth, starting with a pair of runs in the eighth when a leadoff walk and a single crossed the plate on a two-out double to left field from Niko Kavadas. In the ninth it was a trio of two-out hits that gave the Bees their fourth run, the RBI belonging to Zach Neto as he continues his Major League Rehab assignment.

Down but not out, the River Cats strung together a small rally when Logan Porter and Hunter Bishop singled to open the bottom of the ninth. Only Porter would come around to score on a single through the middle from Sergio Alcántara, but a pair of strikeouts brought the game to its conclusion.

All seven Sacramento hits came from different bats, one of which came from David Villar which gives him his second six-game hitting streak on the young season. He has recorded a hit in 12 of the 13 games he’s played in and is batting .367 on the year.

Now even at a game apiece, the two teams will line up for game three of the series on Thursday night at 6:45 p.m. from Sutter Health Park.