Poor 8th inning spoils Garabito’s gem

Tacoma, Wash. — The Sacramento River Cats (30-42) could not hold on to defeat the Tacoma Rainiers (39-33), spoiling a stellar outing from right-hander Gerson Garabito due to a late-game bullpen collapse.

Leading 4-1 in the eighth, Sacramento lefty Caleb Baragar (1-1) surrendered two home runs, the second being a two-out, go-ahead three-run shot from right fielder Taylor Trammell, to take a 5-4 advantage. One batter later, Tacoma added an insurance run when catcher Brian O’Keefe took right-hander Silvino Bracho deep.

Although he did not get the win, Garabito stifled Tacoma in his best Triple-A start to date. He struck out just one, but forced nine ground outs in 6.0 innings with one run surrendered on four hits and four walks.

Garabito’s lone hiccup was a second-inning solo home run to Dillon Thomas. Thomas was 10-for-22 (.455) with seven runs, three doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, three walks, and a 1.384 OPS over six games this series.

Sacramento right fielder Heliot Ramos flashed his many tools on Tuesday. The Giants’ No. 3 prospect on MLB Pipeline plated the game’s first two runs with his first two Triple-A RBIs. The double scored two San Francisco rehabbers, center fielder Jaylin Davis and designated hitter Tommy La Stella.

Ramos gunned down a runner trying to leg out a double in the first, and added his third double in two games in the sixth. The 21-year-old now has a .393 on-base percentage in seven Triple-A games.

The River Cats will return home for a 12-game homestand, starting with six against the first place Reno Aces. Right-hander Tyler Beede (0-4, 5.95) will open the series at Sutter Health Park on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. (PT) against a Reno TBD. Listen to Johnny Doskow call the game live online at rivercats.com or on the MiLB First Pitch app.

Additional Notes

• Right-hander Camilo Doval threw a scoreless seventh, finishing the inning by striking out designated hitter Sam Travis with a 103-MPH fastball.
• Sacramento extended their lead to 4-1 in the seventh without a hit. Tacoma righty Justin Grimm and O’Keefe could not get on the same page, aiding the River Cats rally with a hit-by-pitch, walk, wild pitch, walk, and passed ball.