Late Home Run Lifts Sacramento to 3-1 Victory
TACOMA, Wash. – Locked in a 1-1 game heading into the latter stages, the Sacramento River Cats found some late-game heroics from Osleivis Basabe when his two-run homer pushed Sacramento to a 3-1 win over the Tacoma Rainiers on Wednesday. Both squads scored once in the third inning, as the
TACOMA, Wash. – Locked in a 1-1 game heading into the latter stages, the Sacramento River Cats found some late-game heroics from Osleivis Basabe when his two-run homer pushed Sacramento to a 3-1 win over the Tacoma Rainiers on Wednesday.
Both squads scored once in the third inning, as the River Cats (6-5) capitalized on a Logan Porter double and pushed across a run on a sacrifice fly from Grant McCray. Quickly the Rainiers (5-6) answered, though it was more of a self-inflicted wound by Sacramento as Carson Seymour walked in a run with the bases loaded and two outs.
Seymour would largely avoid other danger, as he twice erased an early base runner for Tacoma by inducing a double play ball in both the fourth and fifth innings. However, he would not factor into the decision with the score knotted at 1-1.
Upon Seymour’s exit the River Cats’ bullpen took over, as four relievers each tossed a spotless inning with at least one strikeout and no walks. Sacramento retired each of the last 14 Rainiers hitters they faced, making sure there would be no comeback attempt.
Moving into the eighth frame, it took just two consecutive batters for the River Cats to snatch the lead. Porter was there once more to set the table, as his single occurred just in front of the Basabe homer that pushed the game to its final score of 3-1.
Picking up the win for Sacramento was Sean Hjelle (2-0), his second of the season. Taking the baton from Hjelle was Joey Lucchesi who earned his third hold with a pair of strikeouts, while Justin Garza (S, 2) converted his second save in as many chances when he struck out one in the ninth.
McCray ended his night 1-for-3 with an RBI, extending his reached base safely streak to all 11 games that he’s played in. Notching two hits for the second straight game was Porter, who also scored two runs for a second straight contest.
Winners of the first two games in the series, the River Cats will look to at least clinch a series split in game three of the series on Thursday when the two teams line up for first pitch at 7:05 p.m.