Cats Fight but Fall Short in Opener Against Chihuahuas

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats returned to the confines of Sutter Health Park for the first time in a week but were met with a similar result to the end of their last series, as a pair of runs in the fifth inning from the El Paso Chihuahuas propelled them to a 3-1 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday.

Both starters were in a groove early, as River Cats (5-5) hurler Blayne Enlow (0-1) retired nine of the first 10 batters that he faced. Meanwhile, his counterpart Nolan Watson (3-0) danced around a pair of runners early after he hit Luis Matos with a pitch and allowed a single to Marco Luciano. However, a lineout and pair of strikeouts got him out of the danger, allowing him to get through his outing without allowing a run.

During the fifth Watson was given some run support, with a rally started on a bunt single by Tirso Ornelas. He was moved into scoring position along with Kevin Plawecki after Plawecki sent a ball into the left-center gap for a double, and both scored two batters later when a ball in play from Clay Dungan just ricocheted off the glove of a diving David Villar at third base for a two-out, two-RBI double.

In the sixth the River Cats put a runner on with a double from Trenton Brooks, but it wasn’t until the eighth when they finally broke through one the scoreboard. Ismael Munguia walked just in front of a ground rule double from Matos, setting up an RBI sacrifice fly for Luciano, but the play turned into a pair of outs when Matos was caught trying to advance to third.

Moving into the ninth, the Chihuahuas got an insurance run when a leadoff double from Plawecki turned into a 3-1 lead, with the RBI belonging to Dungan when he sent his own two-bagger into left center. For Dungan, he was responsible for all three El Paso RBI on the night from the leadoff position.

Try as they might, the River Cats went down in order during the bottom of the ninth as Jeremiah Estrada earned his first save of the season. That preserved the win for Watson, who tossed 5.2 scoreless frames while scattering three hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

Charged with the loss was Enlow, who allowed only the pair of runs on four hits in 4.2 innings, walking two and punching out three. Tommy Romero took the baton after Enlow’s exit, giving up only one run on five hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts.

The trio of Matos, Luciano and Brooks all tallied one base knock from the top third of the lineup, with Matos and Brooks each going for two bases. The other Sacramento hit came from the bat of Chase Pinder, who extended his hitting streak to five games after he finished 1-for-3 with a double of his own.

Both teams will be back in action with an afternoon matinee tomorrow, as the River Cats look to stop their four-game skid when first pitch is tossed at 12:05 p.m.