SUN WIRE SERVICES
Charles Thomas went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer as the Sacramento River Cats handed the Las Vegas 51s their 11th consecutive loss, 6-3, on Thursday night.
The losing streak is the longest in franchise history.
River Cats starter Steve Sparks (5-3) pitched six shutout innings before being touched up for two runs in the seventh. Sparks, a knuckleballer, surrendered seven hits and walked one. He was taken out after Dioner Navarro doubled in a run. Tony Schrager plated another with a sacrifice fly off reliever Victor Moreno.
Marcus Gwyn got a double play and a pop-up in the ninth inning to record his third save.
Sacramento took the lead with two runs in the first and two more in the second off Las Vegas starter Pat Mahomes. Thomas homered in the first inning after a triple by Freddie Bynum. Mike Rouse had an RBI double in the second and Bynum followed with a run-scoring single to make it 4-0.
Shawn Garrett pushed the lead to 5-0 with a solo home run in the fifth and Andrew Beattie lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Mahomes (5-4) surrendered six runs on nine hits in six innings, walking six and striking out four.
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