Cats Clean Up Late, Capture 8-1 Final Over Comets

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – While their opponent reached the scoreboard first, the Sacramento River Cats did so last and most often as they produced eight runs from the fifth through eighth innings leading to an 8-1 win over the Oklahoma City Comets on Thursday.

John Michael Bertrand (1-0) made his season debut for the River Cats (38-28/74-67) and, though he allowed the one and only run to the Comets (32-34/78-63) during their first set of swings, left after 6.1 frames and six strikeouts. He retired the side in order in the fourth and induced a pair of double plays to leave without damage in both the fifth and sixth innings.

The offense rewarded him for his efforts, scoring once in the fifth when Drew Ellis started the frame with his seventh homer of the season to center field. After that tied the contest, Osleivis Basabe doubled home Jerar Encarnación an inning later to put the River Cats in front for good.

Insurance was poured on in the next two frames, which included an Encarnación two-RBI single in the seventh while Bryce Eldridge had a bases clearing three-RBI single in the eighth.

Following Bertrand was Sean Hjelle, who picked up his fifth hold of the season by tossing 1.2 innings with one hit allowed and a single punchout. Mason Black finished things off by working the last inning and allowing two hits with a strikeout.

Basabe closed his night 3-for-3 and was a triple away from the cycle, scoring once and driving a pair in with his two-bagger and home run. Meanwhile, both Eldridge and Encarnación had a pair of knocks, the former was 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI while the latter picked up his first hits on the current rehab assignment by going 2-for-3 with two runs driven in.

Holding a slim lead in the series, the River Cats will look to earn at minimum a series split when the two teams meet tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. (PT) from Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.