Lamb RBI Single Lone Tally for Cats in 3-1 Loss to Chihuahuas

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Jake Lamb knock in the bottom of the seventh scored Daniel Johnson and knotted the contest at 1-1 between the Sacramento River Cats and El Paso Chihuahuas, but a pair of run in the top of the ninth meant a 3-1 defeat for Sacramento on Wednesday.

In the top of the second the Chihuahuas (27-26) claimed the lead, doing so on a solo home run from Tirso Ornelas. Just one day after hitting an inside-the-park home run, Ornelas did it the traditional way and left the yard against River Cats (25-28) Mason Black on a 1-1 offering to start the frame.

That was the only blip in an otherwise solid outing from Black, scattering three other hits and striking out three to a pair of walks in what eventually became a no decision.

After the blast in the second neither team put a runner on until the home half of the fifth, with the River Cats stranding a pair of two-out hits on base after a looking strikeout to end the frame.

The game’s next hits did not come until the seventh when Sacramento drew level, once more using two-out hits to get the job done. Johnson was the key as his double to right center kept the inning alive, and after a Max Stassi walk, Lamb sent his own ball towards right-center field with a single that saw Johnson score from second.

Neither team could muster anything in the eighth, but El Paso made sure there were no extra frames to play with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth. Doing much of the damage yet again was the pair of Trenton Brooks and Yonathan Perlaza, a pair of Chihuahuas that have hurt Sacramento in their eight games this season.

Brooks started the ninth with a single into left and quickly advanced to third on a double from Perlaza into right center. Driving them both home was Perlaza, making him responsible for all three El Paso runs in the contest.

After a 1-for-4 afternoon with a run scored and a double, Perlaza has a hit in all eight games he’s played against Sacramento this season and is batting .382 (13-for-34) with seven runs scored, seven doubles, two homers, six RBI, and two walks. Meanwhile, Brooks had another multi-hit effort by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and double, making him a combined 10-for-23 (.435) with four runs scored, five doubles, one homer, six RBI, and seven walks in seven games.

Charged with the loss was River Cats reliever Joey Lucchesi (1-1), his first of the season after allowing the pair of runs in the top of the ninth on the heels of a scoreless eighth. Justin Garza entered to record the final three outs, working a clean frame with a walk.

Lamb had Sacramento’s only multi-hit effort by going 2-for-3, while Johnson had the only extra-base hit with his two-bagger. In addition to his walk Stassi earned a knock, while Wade Meckler earned his first hit back from the Injured List in his second game and was 1-for-4.

Down 2-0 in the series, Sacramento will look to grab their first win when the two meet again at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday at Sutter Health Park.