Three-Run Johnson Triple Just Enough on Friday for Cats

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A three-run triple from the newest River Cat was all the scoring they needed in Friday’s contest with the Reno Aces, and though things got tight down the stretch, Sacramento kept a hold on a 3-2 victory over Reno.

In the second frame the River Cats (15-16) loaded the bases with no outs, but they were in danger of leaving them stranded after two quick outs. Up stepped Daniel Johnson, who had just signed a minor league deal with Sacramento’s parent club the San Francisco Giants, who fought down to his final strike and lined a 3-2 pitch into right center for a bases-clearing triple. That made Johnson at least the seventh River Cat since 2005 to hit a triple in his first game with Sacramento.

However, that little offense was just about all the River Cats would muster, and they needed the pitching staff to stiffen up and hold onto the lead. Though the Aces (17-14) scored once in the third on a Connor Kaiser homer and once in the fourth when Ildemaro Vargas singled home Cristian Pache, Sacramento starter Trevor McDonald (2-1) otherwise kept the Aces off-balance most of the night.

McDonald lasted six innings and yielded only those two runs on six hits, making him the third River Cat this season to toss a quality start (also: Carson Whisenhunt, Kyle Harrison). McDonald struck out three without issuing a walk, the third straight contest in which a Sacramento starter did not allow a walk.

The River Cats had a chance to add insurance to their lead in the bottom of the eighth, doing so with a walk and pair of hit batsmen. However, they could not convert, finishing the game with just two hits.

Following two perfect innings worked by Tristan Beck in which he struck out four, Kai-Wei Teng (S, 1) entered for the ninth and logged his first professional save in his first opportunity. He allowed only one base runner on a walk, but did not strike out anyone.

That save secured the win for the River Cats, their first win in franchise history since at least 2005 when tallying two or fewer hits. This was just the 35th game since 2005 in which the River Cats were held to a pair of hits or less.

Outside of the three-run triple for Johnson, the other River Cats hit belonged to Brett Auerbach who was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk. Marco Luciano extended his on-base safely streak to 17 games without recording a hit, finishing his night 0-for-1 with a trio of walks.

This was the first win of the series for the River Cats, and they will look to make it two in a row when the two teams meet at Sutter Health Park on Saturday, with game five starting at 6:37 p.m. (PT).