Vosler homers, RC pitchers stifle Tacoma for series split 

Tacoma, Wash. — A home run by third baseman Jason Vosler proved to be the difference as the Sacramento River Cats (58-71) earned a series split vs the Tacoma Rainiers (60-69) with a well-pitched 2-1 win on Sunday.

An unlikely source used his speed to get Sacramento on the board in the second. Designated hitter Yermín Mercedes kicked off the inning with a double, stole third, and scored on an RBI bloop single by left fielder Willie Calhoun.

The teams traded zeros the following three innings before Vosler lined a solo homer, his 16th big fly of the season, to double the lead in the sixth.

Right-hander Sean Hjelle set the tone with 2.0 strong innings, striking out five without allowing a run on two hits and one walk.

The Sacramento bullpen picked up where Hjelle left off, striking out eight while allowing just one run, on an eighth-inning solo shot, in 7.0 innings.

Righty Shelby Miller finished off the win with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth to earn his eighth save since joining the River Cats.

Following the off day, right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang (2-2, 4.47) will try to continue his dominant stretch with his third straight win in Tuesday’s series opener. Huang and the River Cats will host the Las Vegas Aviators and righty Collin Wiles (8-11, 5.53) at 6:35 p.m. (PT). Listen to Johnny Doskow call the game online at rivercats.com or on the MiLB First Pitch app.

Additional Notes

• Right-hander Norwith Gudino (3-4) earned the win with three strikeouts and three walks in 2.0 shutout innings of relief.
• Outfielder Bryce Johnson, who was promoted to San Francisco on Sept. 3, notched his first MLB hit for the Giants on Sunday, lining an RBI single in the fourth inning off lefty Ranger Suarez. Johnson also led off the ninth-inning with a walk and scored on third baseman Wilmer Flores’ walk-off homer.