Sacramento Starts Series with Secure 11-5 Victory

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Continuing the momentum from their Sunday victory, the Sacramento River Cats scored early and rode solid pitching to an 11-5 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets in their series opener on Tuesday.

Both teams went quietly in the first, but the River Cats (22-24) exploded in the top half of the second by scoring five runs on four hits and a pair of walks. Daniel Johnson started things off with a single to extend his on-base safely streak to 12 games and ultimately scored the game’s first run on a single from Logan Porter into right center.

Hunter Bishop followed with a single of his own through the right side to collect an RBI, while an immediate walk then loaded the bases. With one swing Grant McCray drove them all in, raking a double into the gap in right-center field that gave McCray his team-high tying sixth multi-RBI game of the year.

An inning later and Sacramento tacked on three, doing it all within the first four batters in the frame. Devin Mann doubled with one away and instantly traded places with Jake Lamb when he roped a ball into left field, then touched home plate along with Porter when the latter crushed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left to make the score 8-0.

The Comets (28-18) finally answered with a tally in each the third and fourth, as a pair of singles and a wild pitch resulted in a run after Sacramento’s three-spot in the third. In the fourth it was an ambush as Michael Chavis hammered the first pitch of the inning to left-center field to bring Oklahoma City back down 8-2.

Sacramento stole the runs right back in the top of the fifth, with Porter yet again factoring into the damage by leading the inning off with a single. Bishop followed with a knock of his own, his second of the contest, and Sergio Alcántara kept the train moving by lining an RBI single into left center. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position, but only Bishop scored on a Brett Wisely sacrifice fly.

Once more both teams scored in the eighth inning, the River Cats on a wild pitch immediately after a Marco Luciano triple, while a fielding error allowed Esteury Ruiz to reach on an error and score on Ryan Ward double to left center.

Oklahoma City plated a pair in the ninth, instantly loading the bases with a double, single and walk. A walk brought in the first run, while the other was traded for a pair of outs on a double play ball. One final out for reliever Miguel Díaz locked in the 11-5 victory.

Trevor McDonald (3-2) tossed most of the contest for Sacramento, going six innings for a second straight start and third time in the past four outings. He has tossed three quality starts this season and earned his third win by allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

Five different River Cats had multi-hit games including McCray, who was 2-for-4 with his three-run double for his team-leading 15th multi-hit game. Both Johnson and Porter finished with their first three-hit game for the River Cats, the latter of which also scored three runs and drove three in thanks in part to his second home of the campaign. Bishop and Alcántara had a pair of hits apiece, combining for three runs (two by Bishop) and two RBI.

Tonight’s victory gives Sacramento the early edge in the series, and the two teams will lock horns again on Wednesday at the same time and place of 5:05 p.m. (PT) from Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.