'Lucky' Williamson racks up seven RBIs

Driving in seven runs in one week might be considered excellent for most players. Seven RBIs in just five innings would be off the charts.

Mac Williamson entered Sunday having plated eight runs in his first nine games, but needed only two hours to nearly double that total as Triple-A Sacramento defeated host Tacoma, 10-5, in a game shortened due to rain Sunday.

San Francisco's No. 7 prospect credited the barrage to being in the right place at the right time.

"I think [getting up with men on base] plays a large part," Williamson laughed. "The guys ahead of me have been doing a good job of setting the table all year and today was no different. They all had good at-bats today, going deep in the count and just finding ways to get on for me. I think I came up with bases loaded twice today, and obviously you can't have that many RBIs without guys on base."

The hefty RBI total proved to be a career high for the outfielder while falling one short of the franchise mark of eight, held by Cody McKay (Sep. 1, 2002) and Dan Johnson (Apr. 11, 2004).

Williamson got the River Cats off to a quick start in the first inning after Gorkys Hernandez singled and Ryan Lollis was hit by a pitch. He doubled into the gap in right-center field to plate them both.

In the second, the Wake Forest product grounded a single to left to drive in Hak-Ju Lee and Hernandez. An inning later, he belted a bases-loaded double to center that scored Hernandez and Lollis. Andrew Susac tried to cross the plate on the play, but was tagged out by catcher Rob Brantly.

He added a sacrifice fly to right in the fifth to top his previous career high of six RBIs, which he set against Round Rock last Aug. 17. His perfect day at the plate increased his average to .385.

"I felt really good," Williamson said. "I was seeing the ball really well and I felt like I was in a good position to hit any pitch. It's been a nice start for me overall. I worked a lot in the offseason making adjustments to my swing, trying to be shorter and quicker to the ball. I carried that over to Spring Training and I've been pleased with the results so far. Over the last few days, I've been able to lay off pitches I couldn't do anything with and prolong my at-bats until I got what I was looking for. That's what happened today and I was able to knock in some runs for us." 

San Francisco's third-round pick in the 2012 Draft has already tasted life in the big leagues, appearing in 10 games with the Giants last year and three more earlier this month.

"It can be frustrating," he said. "You have to allow yourself to be frustrated as that's the end goal. I understood where my position was coming into this year. The Giants wanted me playing every day and it's in my best interest to do so. I told myself that going into this year, I wanted to remain positive and not be one of those guys who gets bitter about not being up there. I just want to be positive, put together good at-bats and control what I can control. That's what I've been trying to do until I get another opportunity."

Hernandez singled three times and scored three runs for Sacramento, whose offensive outburst made a winner out of San Francisco's No. 27 prospect Chris Stratton (2-2). The 2012 first-rounder allowed five runs on nine hits over five innings.

Seattle's No. 8 prospect Boog Powell went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored for Tacoma.