Sacramento Slides Past Las Vegas in Shutout, 8-0

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats scored five times in their opening frame against the Las Vegas Aviators in their series opener on Tuesday, setting the stage for what would become an 8-0 shutout victory at Sutter Health Park.

The River Cats (12-10/48-49) struck right away with five runs in the first, loading the bases thanks to a pair of singles and a walk with no outs. Stepping up to deliver was Bryce Eldridge, who ripped a ball into the gap in left center that easily scored two.

A Daniel Johnson single forced home another run and kept two aboard with no outs, eventually loading the bases yet again on a walk, but scored just twice more when a walk to Osleivis Basabe pushed across another run while Logan Porter chipped in a sacrifice fly.

Only three more tallies were scored in the rest of the contest, plating a run in each the third, fifth and sixth frames. Each of the first two were from solo home runs, starting with Daniel Johnson in the third on a leadoff solo shot while Bryce Eldridge followed suit with his own blast to start the fifth. While it was the fourth overall homer for Eldridge at Triple-A, it was his first dinger in front of the home crowd at Sutter Health Park.

For the last run of the game, Thomas Gavello worked a walk and was joined on base by Grant McCray when he worked a free pass of his own, ultimately scoring on a Jerar Encarnación single through the right side that scored a run. It was the fourth appearance on rehab for Encarnación, who is a combined 3-for-13 on his assignment.

Five River Cats hurlers combined on a three-hit shutout, though two of those hits came in the final set of at-bats. On late notice Antonio Jimenez drew the start, allowing only one hit on one walk with five strikeouts. It was his first start since 2024, and his five strikeouts were his most since he also punched out five with the Montgomery Biscuits on July 12, 2024.

Collecting the win was Joel Peguero (1-1), his first of the season in his 27th appearance of the year. In two full innings he allowed no hits and just one baserunner on a walk, striking out three on 26 pitches. Following was the trio of Keaton Winn, Miguel Díaz, and Tyler Vogel, the last of which made his Triple-A debut and worked 1.1 scoreless innings with two walks and a strikeout.

Seven different River Cats logged a hit in the contest, including a trio of which had a multi-hit effort including 2-for-4 efforts from Eldridge and Johnson. Both scored a pair of runs and had a solo homer, but Eldridge also doubled with three total RBI. Meanwhile, both Encarnación and McCray were 1-for-4 with a run scored, while Basabe and Thomas Gavello were 1-for-3.

Leading 1-0 in the series, the River Cats will look to gain a significant advantage when the two teams meet for game two of the series at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. (PT).