Baisley wins it for Sacramento in 10th
The River Cats got things going in the second inning. After two quick outs, Adrian Cardenas got on base on a bunt ground ball to third base. Omaha starting pitcher Blaine Hardy walked Sacramento outfielder Michael Taylor, giving catcher Jared Price the opportunity to put the River Cats on the board first. Price did just that, getting a double on a fly ball to left field that allowed Cardenas and Taylor to score.
Sacramento's starting left-hander John Halama pitched a solid game as he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing his first hit of the game to Jarrod Dyson. The speedy center fielder grounded to shortstop Eric Sogard and barely beat out the throw at first base to break up the no-hit bid. Things didn't go well for Halama from that point on, as he hit the following pitcher and then gave up a single to Mike Moustakas to put Omaha on the board. The Royals got another run off of Halama before the starting pitcher was pulled in favor of Justin James.
The Royals put together a strong seventh to break the tie, getting two hits off reliever Justin James and another off Cedric Bowers, who replaced James. The single off Bowers by David Lough allowed both Omaha base-runners to cross home plate for a 4-2 lead.
However, the River Cats didn't allow another late-game deficit to put them away as they stormed back. Sacramento wasted no time in the ninth as Matt Carson starting it off against the fresh arm of Josh Rupe with a single. Sogard followed with a walk before Baisley singled home Carson. Two consecutive wild pitches by Rupe allowed Sogard to score and tie things up at 4-4. Three consecutive strikeouts by Taylor, Corey Wimberly and Travis Buck ended Sacramento's rally and took the game into extra innings for the seventh time this season for the River Cats.
The River Cats, who were 4-2 in extra inning games this season, didn't take long to close out this one with a little help from Omaha fielding, Rally Pants©™, and the heroics of Jeff Baisley. Conor Jackson got to second base on a throwing error by Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, which was followed by another wild pitch by Rupe that allowed Jackson to advance to third. After hitting Carson with a pitch and intentionally walking Eric Sogard, the bases were loaded for Baisley. Baisley sent the first pitch into center field, scoring Jackson and giving the River Cats the win.
With the River Cats victory, and a Fresno loss to Iowa, Sacramento is now 1.0 games back from the division-leading Grizzlies.