Sacramento Snags Another, Wins 10th Straight at Home

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It currently feels as if the Sacramento River Cats have the magic formula when playing at home, as they were able to once more come from behind to secure a 10th consecutive victory when playing at Sutter Health Park by taking down the El Paso Chihuahuas by a 9-8 final on Wednesday.

Unlike the night prior, there was plenty of scoring throughout this contest after the River Cats (28-19/64-58) reached the scoreboard first in the bottom of the opening frame. Wade Meckler singled to open the frame and reached second on a passed ball, ultimately scoring on a Bryce Eldridge groundout to second base.

Though the Chihuahuas (29-17/67-54) countered with their first run in the top of the third on a Luis Campusano single into center, Sacramento jumped immediately back in front when Eldridge hammered his 13th homer of the Triple-A season out to left center. It was a blast that left the bat at 108.7 mph and travelled a total of 426 feet and was also his seventh consecutive homer that travelled to the opposite part of the field.

However, that lead was short lived as the Chihuahuas put up a four-spot in the top of the fourth, all of which was highlighted by a three-run homer from Yonathan Perlaza with two outs in the inning.

Trailing by two, the River Cats found a way to counter in the fifth inning when they took advantage of a throwing error with two away in the inning by Will Wagner at third base to tie the game.

Yet again the Chihuahuas gained the advantage, using a single tally in both the sixth and seventh innings to once more take a two-run lead that would not last. Mason McCoy doubled and later scored on a Perlaza single into center, while Nate Mondou joined the home run party in the seventh with a solo shot to start the frame.

However, the River Cats continued their fight and blasted a pair of solo home runs just two batters apart to equalize the score at 7-7. First it was Drew Ellis blasting a leadoff shot down the left-field line, while Luis Matos followed shortly after with a dinger near the same spot.

A team that’s had four walk-off wins in their past seven home games did not wait too long to take the lead tonight, scoring twice in the eighth to grab their first lead since the third inning. With Osleivis Basabe and Hunter Bishop both aboard, Wade Meckler ripped a double down the left-field line that scored both and gave the River Cats a key insurance tally.

That run came into play after a single with two runners in scoring position brought El Paso within just one run at 9-8, but a key diving stop by Basabe kept the ball in the infield and the trailing runner at third base. That was the break that Ryan Watson (S, 8) needed, as he then was able to shut the door and preserve the win.

Taking credit for the victory was Keaton Winn (1-1), who worked the eighth inning and allowed one hit with one strikeout. He was the only to toss a scoreless outing, though Trent Harris helped stabilize the game and allowed only one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Of the eight hits on the night, two belonged to Meckler as he was 20for-3 with a pair of run scored, two RBI and a double. Meanwhile, Matos scored three times despite logging only one hit, while Eldridge totaled three RBI thanks to his dinger.

The victory marked the 10th consecutive at home and 13 in their past 14 home contests, and they sit just two away from the franchise record of 12 that occurred from July 29-Aug. 31, 2015.

Sacramento will get the chance to chase history when the two teams line up again for game three of this series at 6:45 p.m. (PT) at Sutter Health Park on Thursday.