Sacramento defeated Las Vegas (Athletics), 5-3 in Game 4

Playoff series is tied 2-2 in Best-of-5 series

As the River Cats hang on to their playoff lives, a bigtime postseason pitching performance and three home runs kept Sacramento alive for at least one more game.

BALL GAME!!!! River Cats force a game five! #ClawsUp pic.twitter.com/Tu1c9sr5CH — Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) September 8, 2019

The River Cats got started immediately, as Abiatal Avelino singled and Mike Gerber doubled to put Avelino at third. Cristhian Adames grounded out to knock Avelino in, and the River Cats had the early one run lead.

That would be a good start that the pitching followed up on. Carlos Navas, who had a 5.08 ERA over half the season in Triple-A in the regular season, put up five shutout innings to help lead Sacramento to a big Game 4 win. Navas allowed just one hit, two walks, and one hit batter. The hit batter led off the game, as Navas hit leadoff batter Jorge Mateo, who stayed in the game. But Navas did not allow another baserunner until the two walks in the fourth inning, and the lone hit he allowed.

The power kicked in around the fifth inning. Zach Houchins hit his first postseason home run to lead off the fifth, extending the Sacramento lead to 2-0. Ryan Howard followed that with a double and scored on Abiatal Avelino’s single, and the River Cats were up 3-0. In the sixth inning, Cristhian Adames homered to lead off, and it was 4-0.

The River Cats may have been distracted at the middle of the sixth, after starting second baseman Levi Michael was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. At the same time, Dan Winkler was coming in for his second playoff appearance. He walked the first two batters he faced, and gave up a one-out single to allow the first Las Vegas run of the game.

Things got tighter in the 8th inning. Melvin Adon came in to pitch, and gave up three straight one-out hits, two singles and a double. After an RBI groundout, the Aviators had closed the led to 4-3.

That was all that would be allowed, and Peter Maris’ 2-out home run in the ninth inning gave the River Cats a little insurance before Enderson Franco picked up the save.

With that, the River Cats tie the Best-of-5 series, and force a series deciding Game 5 on Sunday in Las Vegas. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05…notable because the River Cats are 10-1 in day games while on the road. This will also be Sacramento’s eighth Game 5 in its history - the team is just 2-5 in previous winner-take-all games. But then, all those came as an A’s affiliate, so maybe something might be different on Sunday.

Today’s Scheduled Starters

Sacramento (Caleb Baragar) at Las Vegas (James Kaprielian), 12:05 pm ET

And that’s it! One more game, to see if there’ll be at least three more games! Baragar will be making his first playoff appearance, with a 3.45 ERA for most of the season Double-A, but gave up five runs in 4.1 innings in his only Triple-A appearance this season.

We’ll see you Monday morning for at least one more Minor Lines (No Round Up this week, until the season is completely over). And if the River Cats are good, you’ll see Roger again in Minor Lines this season!