Sacramento’s Return Home Spoiled by Oklahoma City

Ellis Hits First Sacramento Homer in Seventh Game Played

Osleivis Basabe prepares to throw to first base during Sacramento's loss to Oklahoma City on June 24, 2025. (Ralph Thompson Photo)

By Jake Ward

June 25, 2025

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For the first time in the past 18 games the Sacramento River Cats returned to friendly confines, however the result was not so friendly as the Oklahoma City Comets flew past Sacramento by a 13-2 final in their series opener on Tuesday. The only River Cats

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For the first time in the past 18 games the Sacramento River Cats returned to friendly confines, however the result was not so friendly as the Oklahoma City Comets flew past Sacramento by a 13-2 final in their series opener on Tuesday.

The only River Cats (36-40) runs of the game came in the second courtesy of a Drew Ellis home run, his first in seven games played with Sacramento this season. Scoring on the play was Logan Porter, who had reached via error just prior to Ellis stepping to the plate.

However, those two runs paled in comparison to the Comets (47-29) offense on the night, as Oklahoma City started the scoring in the first but dropped multi-run frames in the second, fifth and seventh innings.

Normally sharp when pitching at Sutter Health Park, Sacramento starter Carson Whisenhunt (7-5) was tagged for a season-high seven runs, which is tied with April 11, 2024 (against El Paso) for the most runs allowed in a start. A pair of leadoff walks in the second came around to score on a double, and he was tagged for a pair of homers after yielding another in the fifth against Kody Hoese.

The bullpen, which had been stingy with walks and runs as of late, combined to allow six runs and issue five free passes. Only Antonio Jimenez tossed a scoreless outing, working 1.2 run-free frames while striking out three and walking one.

Sacramento’s offense managed just six hits on the night, two of which came in the final two frames. In fact, Sacramento saw 17 consecutive hitters retired by Oklahoma City pitching from the last out of the second inning through the first out of the eighth.

Two of Sacramento’s hits came from the bat of Tyler Fitzgerald, playing in his first game since being optioned on Monday and going 2-for-4 with a strikeout. Ellis closed his night 1-for-3 with the two-run homer, while the trio of Luis Matos, Wade Meckler and Marco Luciano were each 1-for-4.

The River Cats will aim to level the series when the two teams meet for a Wednesday matinee at Sutter Heatlh Park beginning at 12:05 p.m. (PT).