SALT LAKE CITY -- This season, the River Cats have defined themselves as the premier power hitting team in the Pacific Coast League.
Still, for a squad that has hit 177 homers over the course of the season, the past two games against the Salt Lake Bees have been pretty special.
The River Cats, in Friday night's 13-5 Game 3 win at Franklin Covey Field, hit five balls out of the park, marking the second consecutive night the River Cats have hit five homers, a franchise first.
So dramatic was the power surge that the final tally became almost a footnote to the silencing of the Bees' crowd of 6,156.
But there's no ignoring the fact the River Cats, by virtue of their 2-1 lead in this best-of-five series, are a win away from advancing to the PCL final a second consecutive season. And they will attempt to get there tonight when Game 4 commences at 6 p.m.
Chris Denorfia started things by leading the game off with an opposite-field shot to right, and Donnie Murphy led the way, hitting two solo home runs. The other homers came courtesy of Carlos Gonzalez and Justin Knoedler.
The offense supplied the River Cats with a 6-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning that they never relinquished. Indeed, the River Cats were challenged just once, and that was in the bottom of the fifth when Salt Lake scored two runs and loaded the bases on two separate occasions. The River Cats were able to find their way out of trouble, however, when Gary Patchett grounded into an inning-ending double play.
That, for all intents, ended the Salt Lake threat, and it ended the game as well. Leading 6-3 and perhaps feeling a bit uncomfortable, the River Cats scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Murphy led off with his second home run of the night, followed by Knoedler taking an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence. Wes Bankston got into the act, with a single to left that scored two runs, and the damage wouldn't be contained until the River Cats led 10-3.
For one night, at least, it was clear the River Cats' pitching is much deeper than Salt Lake. Its starter, Shane Loux, lasted just three innings. His counterpart, Chris Gissell, pitched six solid innings, allowing seven hits and one earned run.
That performance was enough to hold a potent offensive team like the Bees at bay, while Salt Lake's usage of its bullpen ran deep, which has to concern the Bees entering tonight's Game 4.
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