Cats' late rally not enough, fall to Sky Sox 5-3

Originally published on SacramentoPress.com on July 29, 2010

 The Sacramento River Cats were defeated by the Colorado Springs Sky Sox by a score of 5-3 on Wednesday night at Raley Field.

The Sky Sox started the game strong, quickly scoring a run in the first inning. River Cats' starter Clay Mortensen (11-4) opened the game by hitting the Sox's lead-off batter, Eric Young Jr., to put him on first. After Young stole second base, Matsui grounded out to Cats' catcher Josh Donaldson to advance Young to third base with one out. Two batters later, Sox's Matt Miller hit a two-out double to right field to score Young for the first run of the game.

The River Cats saw their first run of the game come in the bottom of the third inning with a solid two-out rally. With two outs and nobody on base, Cats' Corey Wimberley hit a double down the third-base line. Cats' Eric Sogard followed Wimberley with a double of his own, scoring Wimberley from second.

Colorado Springs was able to break the tie in the top of the fifth inning due to a costly error by Cats shortstop Steven Tolleson. With a runner on first, Sox's Chris Frey hit a soft bouncer back to Mortensen who threw it to Tolleson to start what looked to be an inning-ending double play, but Tolleson dropped the ball and was unable to record a single out.

Sox's Paul Phillips then singled to right field to load the bases with one out. Eric Young Jr. took advantage of this opportunity with a single to right field, scoring McKenry and Frey, while Phillips was gunned out by Cats' Michael Taylor while trying to advance to third. Mortensen was able to get out of the inning without further damage by getting Matsui to line out to left field.

With the River Cats trailing by a score of 4-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Cats made one last late push at getting the win. With two out already in the inning, Wimberley was able to start another rally with a single to right field. Eric Sogard followed with a single of his own to left field. Chris Carter then walked on a full count.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, the Cats' Taylor singled to left field with a hard line drive, scoring both Wimberley and Sogard to make the score 4-3. With the bases once again loaded and still two outs in the inning, Cats' Dallas McPherson would strike out to end the rally short. McPherson was soon ejected from the game after arguing a call that deemed his check swing a strike.

The River Cats came up empty in the ninth inning after the Sox scored an insurance run in the top of the frame, leaving the Cats falling to the Sky Sox by a score of 5-3.

Due to the River Cats' loss and the Fresno Grizzlies' win in extra innings on Wednesday night, the Cats now find themselves tied at the top of the PCL Pacific South Division with the Grizzlies.