Sacramento Avoids Shutout but Comets Still Win 5-1

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Staring down a shutout defeat entering the ninth, the Sacramento River Cats found a way to score their lone run in their last at-bats but could not overcome the Oklahoma City Comets on Wednesday, falling by a 5-1 final.

The River Cats (37-28/73-67) tallied just three hits on the day, two of which came from the bat of Bryce Eldridge. The left-handed hitting prospect doubled in his first plate appearance and drove in Sacramento’s only run with an RBI single in the final inning, and Eldridge was the only River Cats to not strike out in the contest.

Outside of Eldridge, the only other hit was a two-bagger by Wade Meckler in the sixth when his liner to center field hopped over the wall for a ground-rule double. Though he also walked in the ninth just in front of Eldridge’s RBI single, Meckler was left on base both times.

Comets (32-33/78-62) pitching was on fire in the early going, recording 11 of the first 15 outs via the strikeout. Their stiff pitching, combined with a three-run second and a two-run fourth provided all the offense that Oklahoma City needed. The second frame was aided by an error, with the big strike provided by Kody Hoese when he doubled home a pair before scoring on a Esteury Ruiz triple.

During the fourth Hoese struck again, hammering a 2-0 offering for a solo homer while Ruiz tripled again with two outs in the frame and scored on a balk.

The two triples from Ruiz were half of four that Oklahoma City hit in the entire game, making them just the second Pacific Coast League team since the start of the 2022 season to record four triples in a single game. Oklahoma City joined the El Paso Chihuahuas, who did so on Sept. 21, 2024 against Round Rock.

Now even in the series at a game apiece, both teams will try to gain an edge when they meet for game three of the set on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. (PT).