WEST SACRAMENTO Ñ Leads have not been very safe for the Sacramento River Cats or their opponents during the 2010 season. In early August, the Cats blew an 11-run advantage only to come back from an 11-0 deficit a few nights later.

Unfortunately for the home fans, Sacramento was up to its old tricks again in Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League playoffs on Wednesday at Raley Field. The River Cats build a six-run lead after two innings, but could not hold on in a 10-8 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers to open the PCL postseason.

Sacramento scored three runs in the first inning and four in the second to knock out Tacoma starter Andrew Baldwin. But the Rainiers needed just one more inning to send Cats righty Clayton Mortensen to the showers early.

After giving up a three-run homer to TacomaÕs Greg Halman in the top of the fourth, Mortensen was replaced by Edwar Ramirez.

Mortensen was charged with five runs on six hits and five walks through three innings and Ramirez didnÕt do much better, quickly allowing another run to led the Rainiers pull to 7-6.

Even after nearly losing their big lead, the Cats held on for dear life and entered the ninth inning with the game tied at 8-8. It was then that TacomaÕs Brad Nelson doubled off Fernando Hernandez with the bases loaded to give the Rainiers a 10-8 lead and, half an inning later, a 1-0 lead in the series.

All nine River Cats reached base in the game at least once Ñeight of them on hits Ñ but only Matt Watson had more than one safety.

Watson had two hits and scored twice, while Travis Buck hits a home run in the first inning for Sacramento.

The two teams will meet up again tonight at Raley Field for the second game of the five-game series. Right-hander Travis Banwart (4-2, 4.81) will take the hill for the Cats, while Tacoma will send Blake Beavan (2-2, 6.47) to the mound.

This is the second consecutive postseason meeting between Sacramento and Tacoma, as the River Cats defeated the Rainiers 3-1 last season.

The final three games of the series will be played at Safeco Field in Seattle.

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