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River Cats bash 4 homers, Vosler finishes triple shy of cycle in Saturday night dub

River Cats 5, Rainiers 2
Sacramento infielder Jason Vosler loads for the pitch against Tacoma. (Ralph Thompson Photo)
June 18, 2022

Tacoma, Wash. — Four home runs, two coming in back-to-back fashion to take the lead, lifted the Sacramento River Cats (26-39) to a 5-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (26-38) on Saturday. Like he has so many times this season, second baseman Isan Díaz ignited the offense with a third-inning

Tacoma, Wash. — Four home runs, two coming in back-to-back fashion to take the lead, lifted the Sacramento River Cats (26-39) to a 5-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (26-38) on Saturday.

Like he has so many times this season, second baseman Isan Díaz ignited the offense with a third-inning towering home run, lining a 2-1 fastball 444 feet (107.8 exit velocity) off right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon (4-5).

Four runs on three homers over the next two innings put Sacramento on top.

Third baseman David Villar and first baseman Jason Vosler went back-to-back to tie the game and take the lead in the fourth, and right fielder Ka’ai Tom provided two insurance runs with a 416-foot blast to right field (102.5 exit velocity).

Righty Raynel Espinal (5-1) battled through 5.0 innings to earn his team-leading fifth win of the season. The 30-year-old struck out seven while surrendering two runs (both in the first inning) on eight hits and two walks.

Right-handers Jeremy Walker (two strikeouts in 1.0 inning) and Shelby Miller (one strikeout in 2.0 innings) skated through some tough jams, holding the three-run lead for left-hander Joey Marciano in the ninth.

After allowing the first two runners to reach base, Marciano got three straight outs to earn his team-leading fourth save of the season.

Young right-hander Tristan Beck (0-5, 8.65) will look to earn the series split with a win in Sunday’s finale. He’ll take on a Tacoma TBD at 1:35 p.m. (PT). Listen to Johnny Doskow call the game online at rivercats.com or on the MiLB First Pitch app.

Additional Notes

  • Vosler also doubled and singled to go 3-for-4, finishing a triple shy of the River Cats’ first cycle since outfielder Adam Duvall on April 19, 2015 at Salt Lake.
  • Rehabbing San Francisco outfielders Steven Duggar and LaMonte Wade Jr. hit first and second in the River Cats’ lineup, with Duggar going 0-for-3 with a walk while Wade went 0-for-3.