Sacramento Lead Slips Late Against Tacoma, Cats Drop Series

TACOMA, Wash. – Aiming to avoid a series loss, the Sacramento River Cats reached the scoreboard first and enjoyed a comfortable lead for most of the game, but the Tacoma Rainiers staged a late comeback to steal the series finale on Sunday, 12-7.

For a second straight game it was Grant McCray setting the table in the first inning for the River Cats (18-21), starting the game with a single and immediately stealing second base. He eventually moved to third on a balk and found his way across the plate on a Hunter Bishop sacrifice fly.

Quickly the Rainiers (15-24) answered, pushing across a run of their own when Samad Taylor did his best McCray impression by reaching on a single, stealing second, and scoring on a double from Cole Young.

Sacramento managed its first three-run frame in the second, putting a pair in scoring position and one out thanks to a Logan Porter single and Osleivis Basabe double. Both turned into runs on a McCray single through the right side, while McCray later scored on an RBI single from Jerar Encarnación. For Encarnación it was his second game of his current rehab assignment, and he now has an RBI knock in each contest.

Once more Tacoma answered with a run in the home half of the second, turning a Nick Dunn single and a wild pitch into a run when Rhylan Thomas roped a single into left center. The Rainiers further cut into the lead with another solo tally in the fifth using doubles from Young and Tyler Locklear to generate the offense.

Sacramento tried to put the game away with three runs in the sixth, with McCray once more striking for a two-RBI single when he sent a ball back through the middle into center field. A throwing error allowed McCray to score later in the frame, the third time he crossed home plate in the contest.

McCray has managed to score three runs in each of the past two games, the first River Cat to do so since Tyler Fitzgerald accomplished the feat last season from May 21-23, 2024.

However, the was the last the River Cat led as Tacoma reeled off five runs in the seventh and four runs in the eighth to pull away with a 12-7 win. Over the two innings the Rainiers had four extra-base hits, coming in the form of three doubles and one triple.

Sacramento reliever Sean Hjelle (2-1) was charged with his first loss of the season, allowing five runs (four earned) one four hits in one inning of work. Starter Carson Ragsdale lasted just three innings, yielding two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

By the end of the game McCray was 3-for-4, scoring three times with four RBI. The only other River Cat with multiple hits was Brett Auerbach who was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The River Cats will look to get over this series loss when they return home for a six-game set with the Salt Lake Bees beginning at 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday at Sutter Health Park.