Sacramento Stays Close but Lands Just Shy of Aviators, 3-2

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats found themselves in a familiar situation tonight as they trailed by one entering the bottom of the ninth, and though Bryce Eldridge came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, Sacramento could not deliver in the clutch this time as they fell to the Las Vegas Aviators by a 3-2 final on Tuesday.

All five runs in the game were scored in the first two innings, starting with the Aviators (26-32/75-58) in the top of the first. A double play just two batters in seemingly set the River Cats (34-24/70-63) on a good start, but three straight hits were capped with a single from Bryan Lavastida that drove home the first two for the early edge.

Las Vegas’ crucial insurance run in the top of the second proved to be the game’s winning run, once more striking with two outs when Alejo Lopez doubled to bring home Drew Swift, who had singled with one out in the inning.

The River Cats finally reached the board in the bottom half of the frame, doing so with a bang as Tyler Fitzgerald hooked a 3-2 pitch down the left field foul line that rang off the foul pole for his fourth homer of the season. Continuing to attack, Hunter Bishop was hit by a pitch and Sam Huff singled to seemingly put two aboard, until right fielder Nick Martini allowed the ball to get by him allowing Bishop to race home and Huff to make it into third.

From that point forward the pitching mostly took control, but the River Cats did have a runner at third base with less than two outs in the third a pair on in the seventh, but an Eldridge liner that left that bat at 95 mph was snagged on a diving catch leading to a double play.

All culminated in the ninth where the River Cats loaded the bases with two outs and Eldridge at the plate, but the normally clutch hitter could not deliver this time and went down swinging.

Sacramento starter Seth Lonsway (1-2) was charged with the loss, as he allowed all three runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out five with a trio of walks. Three River Cats relievers did combine to not allow a run, including the season debut of left Ethan Small after he was activated off the Injured List earlier today. In his only inning of work, he allowed one hit and punched out two.

Rodriguez closed his night with a 3-for-5 game, while Luciano also had multiple hits by going 2-for-4. Fitzgerald had Sacramento’s only RBI of the night on his homer, while Eldridge did close his night at 1-for-4 with a walk.

The River Cats will look to avenge this home loss when the two teams meet on Wednesday from Sutter Health Park at 6:45 p.m. (PT).