Cats Avoid Shutout but Fall 9-2 to Bees

Mann, Bishop Drive in Only Runs; Díaz Works Scoreless Outing

Sergio Alcántara follows through on a swing during Sacramento's 9-2 loss at Sutter Health Park to the Salt Lake Bees on May 16, 2025. (Kylie Wetzel)

By Jake Ward

May 17, 2025

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two runs in the final at-bats of the game helped the Sacramento River Cats avoid a second consecutive shutout at the hands of the Salt Lake Bees, but still the offense was too little, too late with Salt Lake capturing game four of the series by

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two runs in the final at-bats of the game helped the Sacramento River Cats avoid a second consecutive shutout at the hands of the Salt Lake Bees, but still the offense was too little, too late with Salt Lake capturing game four of the series by a 9-2 final.

For eight innings the River Cats (20-23) were held in check by Bees (17-25) starter Dakota Hudson (3-0), who was in a groove and did not allow Sacramento to log multiple hits in an inning. That changed in the bottom of the ninth as Hudson attempted to earn the first complete game shutout in the Pacific Coast League this season, yielding a pair of leadoff hits that eventually turned into the only two runs of the game for the River Cats.

Salt Lake scored the majority of their runs in the same fashion leading to that point, putting six runs on the board with a pair of three-run blasts. The first came in the second inning from the No. 8 spot in the order in Tucker Flint, driving in three of his four RBI on the night on the blast to left field. Flint would finish his night 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a double.

In the sixth it was the No. 9 spot doing the damage, as Korey Holland crushed his first home run of the season with a pair on out to right center to double the Salt Lake lead. That dinger snapped a four-game and 0-for-15 hitless streak for Holland, though it was his only hit of the evening.

In the top of the ninth Salt Lake added insurance, loading the bases against Helcris Olivárez and eventually scoring all three featuring singles from Rivero and Flint.

River Cats starter Mason Black (0-3) was charged with the loss, his third of the season as he allowed five runs on five hits in 5.1 innings, walking a season-high four with six strikeouts. Right-hander Miguel Díaz had the best outing of the Sacramento hurlers in the contest, working 1.1 run-free frames and punching out one.

Devin Mann collected a trio of singles in the contest while also earning one of the two Sacramento RBI, while Hunter Bishop collected the other on a sacrifice fly. Sergio Alcántara earned a pair of knocks and was 2-for-4 while both Daniel Johnson and Jake Lamb were 1-for-4 with a double.

This series is now level at two games apiece, and both sides will try to gain the advantage in game five of the series on Saturday at 6:37 p.m. (PT) from Sutter Health Park.