Round Rock took three out of the four-game series against Sacramento, which managed to break its second longest eight-game losing streak of the season, with an action-packed win Monday night, 5-3.

Texas Rangers’ affiliate, Round Rock Express, took an early lead in the first by capitalizing on an error by River Cats second baseman Andy LaRoche that allowed third baseman Esteban German to score after stealing his 40th base of the season in the same inning.

An action-packed second inning for the River Cats gave Sacramento a two-run lead after a single from Carter and an RBI double by center fielder Jermaine Mitchell bringing the score 3-1.

A sprained thumb had Carter out since April, after returning to action June 13, River Cats first baseman unloaded a two-run homer at the bottom of the third gaining the lead early 5-1.

“I was trying to hit the ball in the barrel,” Carter said about hitting the only home run of the night.

The River Cats entered the fourth inning with a confident five runs, seven hits and two errors.

Despite his strained left oblique in May this season, River Cats pitcher Tyson Ross held the score 5-1 at the bottom of the fifth with nine strikeouts, he permitted five hits, allowed one run and one walk.

Joey Devine, pitcher for the Cats, permitted a run from Round Rock Express center fielder Kevin Cash, who hit a line drive to left field bringing the score 5-2 in the sixth. Devine played only one inning allowing no walks and no strikeouts.

Vinnie Chulk, who has 51 strikeouts this season, stepped onto the pitching mound to replace Devine in the sixth, but also only pitched for one inning striking out two, walking one and permitting one run for Round Rock.

Round Rock Express gained a run in the seventh as left fielder Val Majewski hit a deep single to right field, which was caught by Jai Miller, bringing in center fielder Leonys Martin, but River Cats remained in the lead 5-3.

Round Rock's pitcher, Ryan Tucker, pitched five innings striking out eight, but allowing one walk and five earned runs.

Pitcher Neil Wagner retired two Round Rock batters in the eighth inning allowing no runs and one walk for the River Cats, who remained in the lead throughout most of the night.

“We’ve been playing pretty bad baseball, you know, making a lot of mental errors,” Carter said. “Today we played better baseball, we got a win finally.”

The River Cats have eight home games remaining, 21 left this season, and will play again Tuesday in a four-game series at Raley Field versus the Albuquerque Isotopes at 7:05 p.m.