Cats’ Bats Hot on Cold Night in Tacoma

TACOMA, Wash. – A rainy night in Tacoma, Wash. Could not stop the Sacramento River Cats’ bats from catching fire as Sacramento exploded for a season-high 17 runs on 17 hits en route to a 17-7 win over the Tacoma Rainiers.

After starting eight minutes late due to rain that passed through just before first pitch, the River Cats (7-5) came out swinging and scored six runs in the top of the first. That was their most runs scored in the first inning of a contest since they scored seven on Aug. 8, 2023 at Las Vegas.

Highlighted in the frame was a Max Stassi two-RBI double that he ripped down the left-field line, while both David Villar and Grant McCray each chipped in RBI singles. The other run in the frame came from a bases loaded walk to Brett Auerbach.

Sergio Alcántara pushed the lead to 7-0 with an RBI single of his own in the top of the third, but the Rainiers (5-7) grabbed two of those runs back in the bottom part of the frame on a two-RBI double from Ben Williamson into right field.

Before Tacoma could score again the River Cats managed another pair of tallies, the first coming in the fourth when Brett Auerbach laced a double into center, while Luciano delivered his second RBI knock of the day when he singled into right during the top of the fifth.

Despite the big lead, the game got close in the home half of the fifth when Tacoma managed a quartet of runs. Austin Shenton launched a three-run homer against Kai-Wei Teng, which had come on the heels of a Williamson RBI single into right, both of which cut the deficit to just 7-3.

Still fighting, the River Cats put up one run in the top of the seventh thanks to a Luciano home run but finally put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth. In their last set of at-bats the River Cats managed seven runs, their largest inning of any game this season.

Sacramento’s big inning was largely built off of free passes, as the River Cats drew five walks in the frame while another was hit by a pitch, with only Luciano and Alcántara picking up their RBI on a single. For Luciano it was his second RBI of the night, and he also managed to set a River Cats early season game high with four runs scored.

Mason Black drew the start and lasted 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and three walks. After an appearance from Kai-Wei Teng, the bullpen shut down the rainiers and threw four scoreless frames to end the night. The first of those relievers was Antonio Jimenez (W, 1-1), who leveled his record at 1-1 after going 2.0 frames without a run or hit allowed and one strikeout.

Both McCray and Luciano had a trio of hits on the night, while the trio of McCray, Stassi and Auerbach each produced a two-bagger. Eight of the nine River Cats in the lineup scored a run, and again eight of nine in the lineup also recorded an RBI.

Sitting with at minimum a series split, the River Cats will look to take an outright series win when the two teams line up for game four of this series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. (PT) from Cheney Stadium.