Cats Bunt Way to Extra-Innings Victory

LAS VEGAS – A two-run triple in the seventh erased the Sacramento River Cats’ lead on Thursday against the Las Vegas Aviators, but Sacramento persevered with a pair of runs in the 10th frame to win both its first road and extra-innings game by a 4-2 final.

A well-timed stolen base from Brett Wisely and a clutch two-out double to left field gave the River Cats (3-3) the lead just four batters into the game. That run early was crucial in what became a pitcher’s duel, which saw the next 10 Sacramento hitters retired.

River Cats starter Carson Seymour worked around a leadoff walk in the second and a bit of danger in the third that included an error and two-out single, but eventually made his way through five scoreless innings and allowed only one more hit (two total) with five strikeouts.

Wisely once more put the pressure on the Aviators (4-2) in the sixth when he doubled to left center and promptly stole third base. Sitting 90 feet from home, he was able to scamper across the plate on a wild pitch from Las Vegas starter J.T. Ginn.

Coming on in relief was Joey Lucchesi, and though he earned his second hold of the year, he allowed a pair of base runners that eventually came around to score against Joel Peguero in the bottom of the seventh. It came against the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, as Denzel Clarke put a ball down the right-field line that got past Hunter Bishop into the corner to score both runners.

Both pitchers allowed a pair of hits, though Peguero punched out three batters in 1.2 innings compared to one for Lucchesi in his 1.1 frames.

That pair of runs came on the heels of a missed opportunity by Sacramento, as they loaded the bases with no outs in the away half of the seventh thanks to a pair of walks and a Max Stassi single. However, the chance went by the wayside after a groundout, flyout, and strikeout ended the frame.

Justin Garza’s (1-0) perfect bottom of the ninth put the game into extra innings where the River Cats started with the free runner on second base. In an unconventional move, Sacramento laid down two consecutive bunts that led to a run.

The first came from Grant McCray, who’s speed turned his attempt into a bunt single and left runners at the corners. In the very next at-bat, Wisely joined the RBI party and dropped down an RBI sacrifice bunt that allowed the free runner Sergio Alcántara to cross the plate.

Just one batter later and Marco Luciano delivered an insurance tally with a single into center that scored McCray while Wisely was thrown out at third.

Wisely had the only multi-hit game in the contest by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, RBI and walk. Lamb and Luciano provided an RBI each, the latter of which sealed the victory. Garza collected the win on the mound but had to battle through the 10th to do so, picking off the free runner and catching him stealing at third before collecting a strikeout and pop out.

Sacramento will look to keep the momentum up in game four of the series tomorrow, with game four scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Las Vegas Ballpark.