Luciano Slam Lifts Sacramento Over Tacoma, 7-5

TACOMA, Wash. – Marco Luciano delivered one of the most clutch hits of the young season for the Sacramento River Cats, unloading the bases with one swing that lifted Sacramento to a 7-5 win over the Tacoma Rainiers in game five of their set.

An early 3-0 River Cats (18-20) lead disappeared in the fourth, all of which started with a familiar face as Jerar Encarnacion started a rehab assignment and immediately delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat during the first. Setting the stage was Grant McCray, as he worked a walk against Rainiers (14-24) starter and rehabber George Young to start the ballgame and immediately stole second.

Delivering in the third was Daniel Johnson, pushing his hitting streak to five games as he laced a double into right fielder that scored both McCray and Encarnacion. McCray had once again worked his way aboard with a free pass, while Encarnacion lined a single into right field.

However, all disappeared in the fourth as Dominic Canzone ripped his own two-bagger into center that scored a pair, while Austin Shenton followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly.

During the home half of the sixth the Rainiers briefly took the lead, doing so on a Shenton RBI single into left field. However, the lead did not last long as McCray kicked off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a Brett Auerbach single, while a walk by Johnson chalked the bases full.

Not even a pitching change could deter the River Cats, as Luciano stepped to the plate and connected on his team-leading seventh homer of the year in grand fashion. The blast was the third grand slam of the season for the River Cats, the last coming from the bat of Hunter Bishop when he hit one on April 25 at El Paso.

Tacoma continued to fight through the end, scoring once in the bottom of the ninth when Samad Taylor pulled a home run down the left-field line with one away against Antonio Jimenez. However, Jimenez was able to ultimately avoid more danger despite having a pair of runners on when he induced a groundball double play to end the game. For Jimenez it was the first save in his Triple-A career.

That preserved the victory for Tristan Beck (3-0), keeping his record blemish free at 3-0, as he worked a pair of innings with one run allowed on three hits and three strikeouts. Picking up a hold was Justin Garza, who tossed a perfect eighth with two strikeouts.

McCray closed the game 2-for-3 with a trio of runs scored along with a pair of both doubles and walks, marking his second game this season in which he recorded multiple two-baggers. Luciano ended his night 2-for-4 with the big homer, while Johnson had a pair of RBI and was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

This victory gives the River Cats a chance to split the series tomorrow, with the series finale taking place at 1:35 p.m. (PT) from Cheney Stadium.