The Sacramento River Cats (33-36) capitalized on a seven-run seventh inning to secure an 11-2 victory over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (31-38) on Sunday night at Constellation Field.
The game began with Sugar Land’s right-handed pitcher, Misael Tamarez (L, 0-2), showcasing his skills by striking out four batters in the first two innings. However, in the second inning, Tamarez surrendered a solo home run, giving the River Cats an early lead. He managed to retire the first two hitters in the third inning, but a fielding error opened the door for Sacramento. Brett Wisley capitalized on the opportunity with a double, driving in another run and extending the River Cats’ lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Sugar Land fought back as Bligh Madris led off with a triple, followed by Quincy Hamilton’s single to left field, allowing Madris to score and narrowing the deficit to 2-1. Justin Dirden continued the rally in the fifth inning by launching an impressive opposite-field home run off Sacramento’s right-handed pitcher Mauricio Llovera (W, 1-0), tying the game at 2-2. This marked Dirden’s eighth home run of the year.
Tamarez returned for the sixth inning, but Sacramento’s Bryce Johnson used a bunt to reach base and advanced to third on a single by Wisley. Despite striking out Tyler Fitzgerald for his seventh strikeout of the night, Tamarez was replaced by left-handed pitcher Austin Davis. Unfortunately, a wild pitch from Davis allowed the River Cats to take a 3-2 lead.
Sacramento seized control of the game in the top of the seventh inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs. The highlight of the inning came when a grand slam accounted for four of the runs, propelling the River Cats to a commanding 10-2 lead. They added one more run in the top of the ninth, solidifying their victory.
After a scheduled off day on Monday, the Space Cowboys will head to Salt Lake City to commence a six-game series against the Bees on Tuesday night. Right-handed pitcher Jairo Solis is set to start for Sugar Land, while the Bees have yet to announce their starter for the 7:35 pm first pitch. Fans can tune in to the game on ESPN 92.5 FM or watch it online on MiLB.TV.
