Cats Continue Winning Ways at Home, Walk Off El Paso in Extras

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The winning ways for the Sacramento River Cats continued at Sutter Health Park, as the River Cats captured their ninth straight victory in Sacramento after walking off the El Paso Chihuahuas by a 4-3 final in 10 innings on Tuesday.

After picking up three walk-off wins in the last homestand against Sugar Land, the River Cats (27-19/63-58) did it again by scoring once in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings before pushing across the game’s winning run in the 10th. Stepping up once again was Osleivis Basabe, who drove home the winning run in Sacramento’s last walk-off win, getting a ball just deep enough into right field for Brett Wisely to scamper home as the free runner in the 10th.

Not only did he play the hero, but Basabe also served a key role in the ninth inning for Sacramento to stay alive as he battled through a leadoff at-bat that ultimately ended in a flare base hit to left field. He eventually wound up as the game’s tying run, coming home from third when Matos laced a double into the left-center gap.

Sacramento’s comeback would not have been possible if it were not for Miguel Díaz (4-1), who ended as the game’s winning pitcher after going two full scoreless frames and striking out two while facing the minimum six batters. That was the fourth win of the season for Díaz, and was his first time tossing two innings since he did son on Aug. 1 against Albuquerque.

Those final two runs from Sacramento put an end to what was eight scoreless innings, as both teams scored during the first frame and did not reach the scoreboard again until the bottom of the ninth. The Chihuahuas (29-16/67-53) were the first to reach the scoreboard, doing so with a trio of solo homers in the first against Sacramento starter Trevor McDonald, his new season high in homers allowed. However, he did make it through the next five without allowing a run, his eighth quality start of the season.

In the bottom of the frame the River Cats countered with a pair of their own, scoring twice with the first on a Wisely sacrifice fly while Jesus Rodriguez delivered a two-out RBI knock into left center.

This gives Sacramento four walk-off wins in their past seven home games, and they have won seven consecutive walk-off games. Additionally, it was their fourth straight extra-innings win, moving them to 6-1 in such games.

Overall, it was the ninth straight home win for Sacramento and their 12th in the past 13 games, and the nine wins are their most since they won 12 straight at home from July 29-Aug. 31, 2015.

Three River Cats ended with multi-hit nights in Matos, Rodriguez and Wade Meckler, with the duo of Matos and Meckler each going 2-for-5 though both of Matos’ hits went for doubles. Meanwhile, Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with his RBI.

Sacramento will look to keep up the home momentum when the two teams meet again for game two of this series at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday from Sutter Health Park.