Eldridge Cranks Cats to 3-2 Win Over Las Vegas

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – What could have been the fastest nine-inning game in Sacramento River Cats history still had a good result in the end, as Bryce Eldridge crushed his first career Triple-A walk-off hit with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 Sacramento win over the Las Vegas Aviators.

Somewhat poetically, the win for the River Cats (13-10/49-49) both started and ended with a solo home run, as Sacramento took their first lead in the contest when Tyler Fitzgerald ripped a line drive over the wall in center field for his first home run with Sacramento in 2025. That was just the second leadoff home run of the season, as Grant McCray was the first to do so back on April 19 against Salt Lake.

It was not until the fifth when the River Cats reached the scoreboard again, with Fitzgerald coming up clutch yet again as he delivered a two-out single into center field that scored Olseivis Basabe, who now find himself in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak in which he is a combined 8-for-31 (.258).

Dealing on the mound was Sacramento starter Mason Black, who retired each of the first five and seven of the first eight batters that he faced. Black allowed no more than one hit in any inning of work, scattering four knocks without a walk and five strikeouts. Today’s outing was Black’s first time tossing six innings since he did so in Salt Lake on June 20, while he did not walk a batter for the first time since June 14 against Tacoma (third total outing without issuing a free pass).

Unfortunately for Black, he was rendered a no decision as the Aviators (10-13/59-39) were able to plate a pair of runs in the away half of the ninth inning. Sacramento reliever Juan Mercedes had started the frame but walked two prior to exiting, and both runs came around to score as Alejo Lopez lined an RBI single down the left field line while Daniel Susac tied the contest with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Down but not out, the River Cats earned their third walk-off win of the season in exciting fashion as Eldridge crushed a 1-2 offering deep over the wall past the bullpen in right field to send the Sutter Health Park crowd home happy. That was Sacramento’s second walk-off homer of the campaign, the last of which came from Drew Ellis on June 26 against Oklahoma City. For Eldridge it was his second walk-off home run of his career, the first of which was with the ACL Giants Orange in the rookie league on Aug. 9, 2023.

Earning the victory for Sacramento despite taking a blown save was Braxton Roxby (1-1), who worked the final 0.2 innings of the ninth and struck out one while allowing one hit. Mercedes finished his 2.1 innings without allowing hit but yielded two runs on three walks over 2.1 innings.

Fitzgerald was the only River Cat with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, home run and two RBI. Eldridge’s only hit in the afternoon was his solo homer, finishing 1-for-4, while Basabe was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The River Cats hold a 2-0 edge in the series and will look to capture at minimum a series split when the two teams line up again on Thursday at Sutter Health Park at 6:45 p.m. (PT).