Matheny launches first Triple-A home run, Krizan homers as River Cats fall to Rainiers

West Sacramento, Calif. — Home runs by first baseman Jason Krizan and center fielder Shane Matheny fueled a five-run second, but the Sacramento River Cats (43-59) were unable to score after that, falling 8-5 to the Tacoma Rainiers (45-56) on Thursday.

Down 3-0 in the second, the River Cats sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs.

Following an error to kick off the inning, Krizan put Sacramento on the board with a 376-foot blast, his seventh of the season (101.2 MPH exit velocity).

Third baseman Ford Proctor, who was making his River Cats debut, restarted a rally with an eight-pitch walk to set up left fielder Ka’ai Tom’s game-tying double.

With Tom on second and one out, Matheny lined his first career Triple-A home run 392 feet to give Sacramento its first lead (101.7 MPH exit velocity).

The 26-year-old Matheny has a hit in all five games he’s played since joining Sacramento, with Thursday’s home run being his first for extra-bases.

Two former River Cats powered Tacoma to the victory.

First baseman Kevin Padlo finished a double shy of the cycle, lining a two-run home run in the Rainiers’ three-run eighth inning off righty Angel Rondón (0-1).

Righty Taylor Williams (1-0) earned his first win since joining the Rainiers, striking out two over 2.0 shutout innings of relief.

Right-hander Sean Hjelle (4-5, 5.22) will try to even the series with a win on Orange Friday. He’ll take on righty Darren McCaughan (6-5, 4.79) at 6:45 p.m. (PT). Listen to Johnny Doskow call the game online at rivercats.com or on the MiLB First Pitch app.

Additional Notes

• Krizan finished 2-for-4. He is 5-for-11 (.455) in three games this month.
• Left-hander Aaron Fletcher struck out one in 1.1 innings of relief. Right-hander Kyle Tyler struck out three in a row to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fifth. Right-hander Patrick Ruotolo tossed a scoreless seventh with one punch out. Lefty Enmanuel De Jesus struck out two in a shutout ninth.