Montz powers River Cats' romp

While his time in the big leagues didn't go the way he would have liked, Luke Montz is angling to get back there as soon as possible. Performances like the one he enjoyed Friday night won't hurt.

The veteran catcher homered and drove in five more runs to power a 17-hit attack as Triple-A Sacramento rolled to a 14-5 road win over Tucson.

Montz lifted a sacrifice fly in the second inning and hit an RBI single in the third. After grounding out in the fourth and striking out in the sixth, the 29-year-old Louisiana native slugged a three-run homer, his seventh of the season, in the eighth.

"I'm really feeling good in the batter's box, my approach at the plate is nice and simple," Montz said. "I'm seeing pitches well. Things are going well."

Since returning from a 13-game stint in Oakland on June 1, he's 8-for-16 with a pair of homers and 12 RBIs in four games.

"I feel like I'm just slowing things down," Montz said. "I've had a lot of opportunities with runners on base, I've made it a focus on trying to come through. Not trying to do too much. I feel like if I can keep with that approach, things will go well."

While he batted .179 in 13 games with the A's, Montz had nothing but good things to say about the club.

"It was a great experience, it's a great team up there," he said. "Bob Melvin's the greatest manager I've ever been around. They pitch, they play defense, everyone just picks everyone up. It was a fun time being around that group of players."

In 19 games with the River Cats, Montz has 23 hits, including 15 for extra bases. He's driven in 24 runs and is slugging .754, numbers he credits to advice he got earlier this spring.

"I came here in Spring Training, they told me, 'Just be aggressive and hit the ball hard, don't try to control it,'" Montz said. "I feel like good things are happening. I can get my chances to get back to the big leagues if I can just drive the ball."

Jemile Weeks went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and Grant Green, the A's No. 3 prospect, slugged a grand slam.

"Nobody gives at-bats away, doesn't matter if we're up or if we're down, every at-bat is grinded here," Montz said. "Grant Green has had some big nights, he's hitting the ball well. Those guys get on base and it sets the tone for the rest of the lineup. One through nine, it seems like the team has a lot of great hitters."

River Cats starter Andrew Werner improved to 5-8 after allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five over seven innings.

Mike Wilson hit a three-run homer for the Padres.