First Triple-A Homer for Eldridge Highlight of 8-3 Sacramento Win

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The first Triple-A home run for Bryce Eldridge could not have come at a better time, as he launched a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning that set the Sacramento River Cats up for an 8-3 victory over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Thursday.

Entering the seventh the River Cats (29-31) trailed by just a run, having scored twice in the top of the sixth when Sergio Alcántara walked and scored on an Eldridge sacrifice fly, his first RBI in the contest. Meanwhile, Luis Matos had doubled down the left-field line behind Alcántara to put both in scoring position and later scored on a Grant McCray that also rolled down the line in left field.

However, a trio of single-run frames had the River Cats in a hole, the first of which came in the second inning when Jesús Bastidas doubled and advanced to third on a ground ball, ultimately scoring the game’s first run on a wild pitch from Sacramento starter Carson Whisenhunt.

Meanwhile, Sugar Land struck with a. Kenedy Corona double and Zack Short sacrifice fly in the fifth and then retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Luis Castro crushed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left field with one out.

All of that led to the defining moment in the game, the Eldridge grand slam. With two outs in the inning, Logan Porter and Matos each drew a walk while Alcántara singled to load the bases. Sitting in a 1-0 count, the No. 1 San Francisco Giants prospect (per MLB Pipeline) hammered a no-doubt blast that cleared the bullpens beyond the wall in right field after leaving the bat at 109.8 mph and traveled 397 feet.

Sacramento added insurance in the top of the ninth with a pair of tallies, the first of which the result of an RBI triple to right field by McCray, his third triple of the season. McCray crossed the plate shortly after on a Marco Luciano sacrifice fly.

Whisenhunt eventually left after 5.2 innings pitched, allowing three runs on eight hits with an uncharacteristically low one strikeout. The bullpen combined to not allow a run in 3.1 innings, as right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) tossed the first 1.1 innings in relief and struck out three of the four batters he faced to ultimately earn his first win in 2025. Ryan Watson (S, 1) notched his first River Cats save by tossing a clean pair of frames with one hit and three strikeouts.

The grand slam was the only hit on the night for Eldridge, who finished 1-for-4 with a total of five RBI, the fourth River Cat to drive in five in a single game this season. McCray closed a home run shy of the cycle, ending 3-for-5 with a run scored, double, triple, and two RBI. Meanwhile, Matos finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a double in his Sacramento season debut.

Now up two games to one in the series, the River Cats will look to secure at minimum a series split when the two teams meet for game four of the series on Friday at 5:05 p.m. (PT) from Constellation Field.