Late Error Costs Kitties, Leads to Series Sweep by Comets

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A three-run eighth seemed to set the Sacramento River Cats on track to a Sunday victory, but a late two-out error in the top of the ninth allowed the Oklahoma City Comets to score twice and steal a 5-4 victory at Sutter Health Park.

Marco Luciano helped the River Cats (11-10/47-49) manufacture the first run, singling to open the second inning and promptly swiping second base. Three batters later and he crossed the plate easily courtesy of Austin Barnes, who drove a ball into right center.

However, the Comets (13-8/59-37) were able to equalize in the top of the fourth when Nick Senzel and Kody Hoese doubled in consecutive at-bats at the start of the inning. The RBI belonged to Hoese, and snapped a four-game and 16 at-bat hitless streak.

An inning-opening walk to Luciano set Sacramento’s three-run inning in motion, again stealing second to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Osleivis Basabe delivered in the clutch, delivering a ball up the middle for an RBI.

While Basabe was cut down trying to steal leaving two outs in the frame, Barnes kept the inning alive with a single just in front of the third homer of the season by Thomas Gavello, easily sailing over the wall in right field for a two-run shot.

Enjoying a three-run lead, the Comets cut into the deficit in the top of the eighth with a pair of runs, the first of which was a one-out RBI knock by Austin Gauthier into shallow left field. Later with two outs in the frame Chuckie Robinson drove in the second run of the inning, singling into center for Hoese to score.

Sacramento had a chance to add insurance to the lead in the home half of the eighth, sitting with a pair of runners on first and second with two outs. Meckler seemed to come through in the clutch with a knock into center, but the lead runner Bryce Eldridge was thrown out at home trying to score.

That set up the Comets for their comeback in the top of the ninth, as they were able to load the bases against River Cats closer Ryan Watson (2-2) before recording two outs. Down to their final strike, Austin Gauthier lined a ball to right field that was dropped by right fielder Jerar Encarnación that allowed two runs to score and push the game to its 5-4 final.

Watson was charged with the loss, though both runs he allowed were unearned while walking two and allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Southpaw Carson Whisenhunt surrendered only one run in his 3.2 innings of work, scattering five hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

Only Gavello and Barnes finished with a pair of hits, the former was 2-for-4 with a double and homer in addition to two RBI while Barnes was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Meanwhile, Basabe also chipped in an RBI in a 1-for-4 effort.

The loss secured a series sweep for the Comets, the first time that Sacramento has been swept this season. This series felt a bit familiar, as the last time Oklahoma City swept Sacramento was the three games coming out of the All-Star break from July 14-16, 2023.

Tuesday will see the start of a new series, as the River Cats welcome the Las Vegas Aviators for a six-game series beginning on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. (PT) from Sutter Health Park.