River Cats Stay Close Until Late Against Aviators

LAS VEGAS – Twice in the early goings the Sacramento River Cats were able to knot the score with the Las Vegas Aviators, but in the end the Aviators put the game away with a six-run eighth to take the series finale by a score of 11-4 on Sunday.

A Nick Kurz home run in the home half of the first started the scoring for the Aviators (6-3), his third of the series against the River Cats (4-5). While it was his only hit of the day, Kurz still finished the series a combined 9-for-23 (.391) with four runs scored, two doubles, the three homers and nine RBI.

Sacramento snatched a brief lead in the top of the second with a pair of runs, both scoring on the first triple of the season for the River Cats. It was Hunter Bishop claiming the three-bagger, hammering a ball to right field that hit off the wall and caromed in a fashion that he used his speed to get all the way to third base. A potential misplay of the ball in left also allowed both Brett Auerbach and Osleivis Basabe to score on the play.

Quickly the Aviators tied the game again, doing so on an Alejo Lopez double to left field that deflected off Marco Luciano, allowing Brett Harris to scored after he initially doubled with one out. Trying to score on the play was Willie MacIver, who had singled just ahead of Lopez.

Las Vegas pulled in front yet again an inning later, turning a Drew Avans leadoff single into a run thanks to a CJ Alexander RBI single into left field.

Batting with one out in the top of the fourth, Logan Porter unleashed his first homer of the season on a 1-0 offering from Jack Lopez (1-0) that for the second time in the day brought the score level.

That would be the final tie however, as the Aviators pushed across two in the sixth on consecutive RBI singles from Lopez and Avans.

The score then got out of hand late as Las Vegas produced a six-run eighth, highlighted by the effort from Carlos Cortes. He started the eighth inning with a leadoff home run to left field, then came back up for a second time and drove a single to left that scored two. Also earning RBI singles were Avans, Alexander and Darell Hernaiz.

Charged with the loss was Carson Ragsdale (0-1) who allowed four earned runs (six total) on eight hits in 3.1 relief innings.

Though he did not factor into the decision, Joel Peguero appeared after Ragsdale and threw multiple 100+ mph pitches, the fastest of which was clocked at 102.2 mph. That is tied for the second fastest pitch in Triple-A this season along with Luis Mey of Louisville (CIN).

Porter closed his day 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of walks in addition to the homer, and David Villar has now hit safely in all five games he’s played in, moving to 6-for-16 (.375) on the season after a 1-for-4 day. Bishop’s two-run triple was his only hit, ending the game 1-for-3 with a walk.

After an off day on Monday, the River Cats will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Tacoma Rainiers from Cheney Stadium beginning at 6:05 p.m. (PT).