Six-Run Second Puts Sacramento on Cruise Control Against Las Vegas

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The biggest inning of the season for the Sacramento River Cats was the key to victory on Thursday, as Sacramento topped the Las Vegas Aviators in game three of their series by a 7-1 final.

While the Aviators (10-13) struck during their first set of swings in the first, doing so on an RBI double from Yohel Pozo after Tyler Soderstrom reached second on a fielder’s choice combined with an error, it was no problem for the River Cats (16-8) who tallied six runs in the second inning alone.

With one swing of the bat from Yusniel Diaz the game was tied, as he launched his second homer in his past three games on a 2-2 pitch with one out. Three straight walks loaded the bases while a fourth consecutive free pass was issued to Marco Luciano, which forced a run home. Heliot Ramos followed with a sacrifice fly, while Casey Schmitt delivered a bases loaded double out to right center that scored all three runners.

For Schmitt, that knock extended his hitting streak to a season-best 12 games, batting .436 (24-for-55) over that span. It also pushed his RBI total to 27 on the season, as he continues to extend his Sacramento franchise record for RBI through the River Cats’ first 24 games.

Just one more runner crossed the plate in the contest, as the River Cats forced home an insurance run thanks to an RBI ground rule double by Chase Pinder in the fifth, which scored Diaz who had walked and subsequently stole both second and third. That made Diaz the third River Cat this season with two stolen bases in the same game.

Though his scoreless streak was stopped at nine innings over two games due to the unearned run in the first, Sacramento starter Mason Black (2-1) still went on to collect the win after he struck out five and yielded only three hits in 5.0 innings. Because the run was unearned, Black sports a 0.00 ERA over his previous 14.0 innings and three games, allowing just a combined five hits in that time with 15 strikeouts. Including his three earned runs against Reno on April 6, Black boasts an ERA of 1.52 in four starts in April.

Earning a long save was Tommy Romero, who tossed the final 4.0 innings for his first save as a River Cat and his first since Aug. 17, 2022 as a member of the Durham Bulls. It was his third scoreless outing of the year, giving up only four hits with four walks while punching out five.

Five different River Cats tallied hits in the contest, which included Chase Pinder going 2-for-2 with a run scored, a double, an RBI and two walks.

The six runs in the frame were the most in any inning this year for Sacramento, outdoing their previous high by just one which was last accomplished in the series opener against Las Vegas on Tuesday. Sacramento also drew eight walks in the contest, the eighth time earning eight or more free passes in 2024.

Charged with the loss for Las Vegas was starter Hogan Harris (1-1), as he allowed all six runs in the second on just one hit and five walks while striking out two.

The River Cats can earn a series split tomorrow when both teams take the diamond for game four of the series, with first pitch from Sutter Health Park at 6:45 p.m.