Three-Run Frames Help Cats Draw Level in Series with Isotopes

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A pair of three-run innings helped the Sacramento River Cats even up their series with the Albuquerque Isotopes, shaking off a loss in game one by commanding a 7-3 win on Wednesday evening.

Neither team had a runner in the first and then left one aboard in the second, meaning that the River Cats (17-12/53-51) broke the scoreless tie with their swings in the away half of the third. Sam Huff, who was just activated from the Injured List earlier in the afternoon, and Thomas Gavello both singled to set the table with a pair of runners.

Bryce Eldridge worked a walk to load the bases, while Jerar Encarnación saw a free pass of his own to earn a free RBI. That chased Isotopes (11-17/42-60) starter Chase Dollander (0-1) from the game, but that did not ease the danger as Tyler Fitzgerald lined a single into left field that scored both Gavello and Eldridge to push the score to 3-0.

A Christian Koss solo homer in the fifth, his first of his current rehab assignment in four games played, briefly pushed the Sacramento lead to 4-0. However, Albuquerque countered when Aaron Schunk singled with two outs just ahead of Zac Veen, who delivered a three-bagger to right center that put the Isotopes on the board.

That score held until the River Cats added insurance in the top of the eighth, doing so with four consecutive hits. The first two of the trio were singles by Eldridge and Encarnación, while Grant McCray lined a double into center field that scored both runners and left McCray in scoring position. He did not wait long as Fitzgerald collected his third RBI of the night by going to the opposite field with a single to right.

Pitching was holding up its end of the deal as starter Trevor McDonald avoided much danger prior to allowing the run in the fifth, leaving after 5.2 innings and striking out three with two walks. Right-hander Braxton Roxby took the baton next and went 1.1 innings, allowing two hits but striking out one for his fourth hold.

Entering the night with a six-game scoreless streak, Joel Peguero was next to finish the game off and while he pushed his run-free span to 9.1 cumulative innings, he eventually saw the streak end in the ninth. By the end of his two frames, Peguero allowed two runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Fitzgerald closed his night 3-for-5 with three RBI, and he stays hot as he is batting .424 (14-for-33) with seven runs scored and eight RBI in his past eight games. McCray produced a 2-for-5 effort with a run scored, double and pair of RBI, while both Koss and Encarnación each had a hit on rehab (the home run for Koss the difference).

Now level at 1-1, the River Cats will look to gain an advantage when the two teams line up for game three of this series on Thursday at 5:35 p.m. (PT).