Sacramento Snags Sixth Straight Victory by Topping Reno 8-4

RENO, Nev. – The Sacramento River Cats continued their recent hot streak on Saturday night, generating three multi-run innings to eventually secure an 8-4 victory over the Reno Aces at Greater Nevada Field.

Much like they did yesterday, the Aces (3-8/40-46) plated the game’s first run when Tristin English doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jesus Valdez in the home half of the second. That lead lasted just a half inning as the River Cats (7-4/43-43) scored twice in the top of the third, loading the bases with two outs after both Wade Meckler and Grant McCray walked while Casey Schmitt singled in between.

Sacramento doubled their output in the fourth, getting a kickstart from Hunter Bishop as he singled into left and immediately stole second base. After Devin Mann earned a free pass, both moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt from Zach Morgan. Both runs eventually scored, though in an odd fashion as Bishop crossed on a Meckler groundout while a throwing error allowed Mann to score as well.

Reno cut into the lead with a tally in the fifth thanks to a pair of hits and a wild pitch, as English reached base with a knock into left center and quickly scored on Aramis Garcia’s single to right center.

However, it was the sixth when the River Cats put the game out of reach thanks to a four-run frame, all of which was highlighted by a three-run double from Daniel Johnson. In his first game back with Sacramento since June 1, he pulled a double down the right-field line that cleared the bases. It was reminiscent of his debut contest with the River Cats on May 2 where his three-run triple secured a 3-2 victory over the same opponent in the Aces.

Reno kept the contest by scoring once in the sixth after a walk and a pair of wild pitches from Joel Peguero, as well as once in the eighth when Jesus Valdez hammered an 0-1 offering from Jimenez over the wall in left center to cut the lead in half.

That was as close as the Aces could come, as Miguel Díaz finished off the victory by stranding an inherited runner with a perfect ninth inning. His effort preserved the win for starter Carson Whisenhunt (8-5), who surrendered a total of nine hits but allowed only two runs with three walks and strikeouts for his eighth victory of the campaign.

Both Johnson and Drew Ellis were 2-for-4 with a double, the former with three RBI while the latter chipped in ta pair. Hunter Bishop extended his hitting streak to eight games by going 1-for-5 with a run scored, but both Wade Meckler (eight games) and Grant McCray (five games) saw their streaks come to an end.

This was the sixth straight win for the River Cats, further extending their season-long streak and reaching six consecutive victories for the first time since June 1-7, 2024. Sacramento can go for the sweep yet again tomorrow, which would mark two straight series sweeps after not logging one since July 2019.

The third and final game of the series gets underway at 1:05 p.m. (PT) from Greater Nevada Field on Sunday.