SALT LAKE CITY – The River Cats have defined themselves this season as the Pacific Coast League's premier power hitting team.
Still, for a squad that has hit 177 home runs this season, the past two games against the Salt Lake Bees have been pretty special.
In Friday night's 13-5 Game 3 victory, the River Cats hit five balls out of the park for a second consecutive night, a franchise first.
The power surge helped silence the announced crowd of 6,156 at Franklin Covey Field.
The River Cats lead the Pacific Conference championship series 2-1, and are a win away from advancing to the PCL final for a second consecutive season. They can clinch that tonight with a victory in Game 4.
"It seems like we have our power swing together," said Donnie Murphy, who led the way with two solo home runs. "I got a couple of pitches that I can handle and I'm swinging the bat pretty good."
If Chris Denorfia started things by leading the game off with an opposite-field shot to right, it was Murphy, who also singled in a run in the ninth, who defined matters. The other home runs came from Carlos González and Justin Knoedler.
The River Cats took a 6-1 lead in the top of the fifth and never gave it up.
Salt Lake scored twice in the sixth, and loaded the bases on two separate occasions. The River Cats were able to find their way out of trouble, however, when the Bees' Gary Patchett grounded into an inning-ending double play.
"That was a humongous play," said River Cats manager Todd Steverson. "Who knows what could've happened with a hit there? He could've hit a grand slam and given them the lead. So to get a ground ball there and for the defense to turn the double play was really big for us."
Up 6-3, the River Cats scored four runs in the seventh inning. Murphy led off with his second home run, followed by Knoedler taking an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence. Wes Bankston became part of a 17-hit attack with a single to left that scored two runs, and the damage wouldn't be complete until the River Cats had a 10-3 lead. Jeff Baisley doubled in two runs in a three-run ninth.
For one night, at least, it was clear the River Cats' pitching was deeper than Salt Lake's.
Salt Lake starter Shane Loux lasted just three innings. His counterpart, Chris Gissell, pitched six solid innings, allowed seven hits and one earned run.
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