Franchise History Made as Sacramento Demolishes Reno, 21-7

RENO, Nev. – Franchise history was made in the third inning of tonight’s contest for the Sacramento River Cats when they scored 13 runs against the Reno Aces, with Sacramento going on to annihilate Reno by a 21-7 final at Greater Nevada Field on Thursday.

That big frame had to wait for a five-run first for the River Cats (33-21/69-60), as they plated all five tallies with two outs in the frame. Four of those runs came courtesy the big fly, with none more impressive than the mammoth 470-foot homer from Bryce Eldridge that nearly landed in the Truckee River. Just a few batters later and Brett Wisely nearly replicated the feat, while Hunter Bishop added an RBI single into center.

It felt like the game was nearly over after the River Cats’ big inning in the third, as their 13 runs matched the 13 they scored in the seventh inning against Colorado Springs on July 23, 2004. Sacramento slugged three of their season high six homers in the contest during that third frame, with Tyler Fitzgerald, Thomas Gavello, and Grant McCray each hitting one while combining for eight RBI.

McCray also logged a single in the earlier part of the inning, giving him two hits in the frame. Meanwhile, Wade Meckler had accomplished that feat with a double and single in the first, making it the second time this season that the River Cats have had a pair of players tally multiple hits in different innings of the same game. Overall, they’re the fourth and fifth to do so this season after Eldridge did so in the series opener on Tuesday.

While the Aces (15-39/52-77) tried to cut into the deficit by scoring once in each the third and fourth, twice in the sixth and three times in the seventh, Reno never really threatened to climb back into the ballgame. Of the highlights was a Jose Herrera homer, their first run of the game in the third, while Kristian Robinson had a three-run double and finished his night driving in four of Reno’s seven runs.

Sacramento added insurance in the top of the eighth, doing so with their sixth and final home run of the evening. It was another Gavello blast, his second of the night to make him the fifth River Cat this season with a multi-homer game (seventh total occasion).

By night’s end the River Cats finished with 21 runs on 21 hits, their most hits since they had 21 on April 16, 2023 at Reno. In fact, each of the last three times the River Cats have scored 20 runs have all come against Reno, as Sacramento last did so on July 7, 2019 with 21 runs while scoring 22 times on April 14, 2013.

Lost in what was an offensive explosion was a great starting effort from JT Brubaker (1-0), as he earned his first Sacramento win by going five innings and allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

All eight River Cats to log a hit in the game finished with a multi-hit effort, but none more than the 5-for-6 effort with three runs scored, one double, and one RBI by Hunter Bishop. Not only is he the first River Cat with a five-hit game this season, that marked his new professional career high in hits for a game. Outside of the homers and Bishop’s double, Meckler was 3-for-6 with a two-bagger of his own. Gavello closed his night with five RBI, while Wisely and McCray each added four apiece.

The River Cats have won 10 straight games against the Aces, leaving them just two shy of the franchise record 12 straight wins against Reno from May 28 through July 7, 2010.

With three straight wins in this series, Sacramento will go for the series win outright in game four of the set at Greater Nevada Field on Friday beginning at 6:35 p.m. (PT).