Sacramento Saves Scoring for Late, Auerbach Homer Pushes to Victory

EL PASO, Texas – Saturday’s contest with the Sacramento River Cats and El Paso Chihuahuas went into the bottom of the eighth without a score, but four runs late in the ninth and 10th innings that featured a homer from Brett Auerbach lifted Sacramento to a 4-2 win over El Paso in game five.

The Chihuahuas (12-14) took the lead on a Luis Campusano sacrifice fly and a Yonathan Perlaza RBI single in the home half of the eight, though it was not their first scoring opportunity. El Paso nearly scored in the third on a Clay Dungan single to right, but Tim Locastro was thrown out trying to score by Victor Bericoto to end the inning.

Bericoto had the only River Cats (13-13) hit when the ninth started, and it was nearly the only hit for the game until a crucial error made by Eguy Rosario combined with a wild pitch put a pair of runners in scoring positition. Down to their final out and final strike, Jake Lamb delivered one of the timeliest hits so far this season when he singled into center field, scoring both Marco Luciano and Brett Wisely.

Sacramento’s bullpen kept the Chihauhuas off the board in the ninth, working around a leadoff walk in the frame. That set up Auerbach to play the hero, as he hammered a 2-1 pitch with one out over the wall in center field that also scored the extra-innings runner from second base.

Earning the win was Joey Lucchesi (1-0), who worked the ninth and the 10th without allowing a run for his first winning decision of the season. Trevor McDonald started for Sacramento but did not factor into the decision despite not allowing a run, though he did walk four and allow three hits to five strikeouts.

Of the three home runs that Auerbach has hit this season, two have been go-ahead homers and he trails only the three of fellow Brett, Brett Wisely, in that category. In total Sacramento scored four runs on three hits, two of which produced a run.

The River Cats will have the chance to split the series tomorrow when the two teams line up for game six of the set from Southwest University Park at 11:05 a.m. (PT).