RENO – The River Cats planned to return to Sacramento after Thursday night's game with less than 24 hours to regroup before meeting the Reno Aces again tonight at Raley Field, and here's guessing they couldn't get out of Nevada fast enough.

After a 4-2 loss in which they struggled with runners in scoring position, Sacramento suddenly trails 2-0 in the best-of-five PCL playoff series.

Barry Enright allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings in earning the win for Reno at Aces Ballpark, where he had a 5.88 ERA in 12 starts during the regular season.

The only blemish on his night was a long home run by River Cats first baseman Chris Carter, whose two hits in the series have cleared the fence. Josh Donaldson also homered for Sacramento off reliever Brian Stokes in the eighth inning.

It was all the scoring the offense would muster, partly because of an 0-for-9 night with runners in scoring position.

The River Cats had a runner on second base in six innings – four times with only one out – but could not capitalize.

"We need to get it done," said Sacramento manager Darren Bush. "Credit their pitcher for making the pitches that he made. But in order to win, we have to score, so we have to take advantage of our opportunities."

The River Cats' Tyson Ross cruised through the first three innings but took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in six innings.

His trouble started with two outs in the fourth, when Aces first baseman Andy Tracy doubled off the top of the wall in center field.

Cole Gillespie then singled to left field, and, as Tracy rounded third base, Sacramento left fielder Adrian Cardenas made a one-hop throw to the plate.

Catcher Landon Powell, possibly trying to deke Tracy by acting as though the play would not be close, attempted to reach out, glove the ball and swipe a tag in one motion. But the ball bounced off his glove, and Tracy slid in safely with the game's first run.

Tony Abreu followed with a single to score Gillespie, who had advanced to second on Cardenas' throw.

They were the kind of early clutch hits that the River Cats could not get. Sacramento put runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, twice on one-out doubles, and could not score.

Reno added a run in the fifth on a home run by catcher Lucas May that nearly cleared the scoreboard in left-center field. May drove in another run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Carter said the River Cats had "expected to at least split with these guys on their home field. But we've just got to win at home now. I don't think we're pressing too much."

They will try to stave off elimination tonight behind right-hander Travis Banwart, who posted a 9-9 record and 4.63 ERA during the regular season. The Aces will counter with right-hander Kevin Mulvey, who was 4-9 with a 6.64 ERA.

"You can't look at it as a mountain – it's not," Bush said. "We have to go out and win one baseball game (tonight)."

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