Luciano, Matos lead River Cats past Cy Young winner Keuchel

May 3, 2024, 8:11 AM

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Marco Luciano #37 of the San Francisco Giants poses during photo...

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento River Cats used a big day at the plate from some up-and-coming prospects during Thursday’s 4-0 shutout victory over the Tacoma Rainiers at Sutter Health Park.

2015 American League Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel toed the rubber for Tacoma, the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, but his recent success waned against a surging River Cats offense.

Entering play on Thursday, Keuchel had allowed just one run and struck out seven batters over his past two starts (10.0 innings pitched).

Upon exiting his start against Sacramento, the 36-year-old southpaw surrendered four runs (three earned) over five innings while failing to strike out a River Cats batter.

Luciano launches a single to bring in Schmitt & Ramos 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NBpNTNgLY5

— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) May 3, 2024

More on the Sacramento River Cats’ win vs. Tacoma

Luis Matos got Sacramento on the board in the bottom of the third inning by lacing a double down the left-field line. Thanks to a throwing error by Keuchel moments later on Heliot Ramos’ tapper back to the mound, the River Cats took a 2-0 lead into the fourth.

Marco Luciano, the San Francisco Giants’ top prospect, put the final stamp on Keuchel’s pitching line by dropping in a two-run single that put the Cats up 4-0 and sent the former Cy Young Award winner out of the game.

Luciano upped his batting average to .283 during the win, while Casey Schmitt’s single lifted his average to .289 on the season.

Sacramento (20-10) has scored 16 runs over three games against Tacoma this week (all wins) as they remain atop the Pacific Coast League West standings.