Rainiers Walk Off Winners Against Tucson
Published on August 30, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
TACOMA, Wash. - Michael Saunders' home run in the bottom of the ninth inning powered the Tacoma Rainiers to a 4-2 win over the Tucson Padres in front of 4,604 fans at Cheney Stadium on Monday.
With two outs and the score at tied 2-2, Saunders belted a two-run home run, his sixth as a Rainier, to secure a series-opening win for Tacoma.
The ninth-inning heroics were made possible after the Rainiers posted a two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. Tucson held a 2-0 lead before Chris Gimenez's bases-loaded single drove in a pair of runs and evened the score with one out in the frame.
The Padres took a lead 1-0 in the third inning thanks to a line-drove double hit by Eric Patterson that plated Anthony Contreras. Luis Martinez grounded into a force out in the top of the fourth, clearing the way for Matt Clark to score and stretch Tucson's lead to a pair of runs.
Reliever Shawn Kelley (1-0) earned the win for Tacoma after holding the Padres to two hits over a scoreless inning of work in the ninth. Jarrett Grube turned in a strong start for the Rainiers, surrendering two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts over six innings.
Padres' right-hander Pat Neshek was dealt the loss after giving up Saunders' game-winning home run in the ninth inning.
First baseman Justin Smoak finished the first game of his MLB rehab assignment with Tacoma going 0-for-1 and drawing one walk after being hit by a pitch in the first inning.
The Rainiers (67-70) begin the third game of their four-game series with the Padres (62-75) at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 6.14) is scheduled to start for Tacoma against left-hander Rob Musgrave (1-2, 6.82) for Tucson. The game will be broadcast live on South Sound Sports 850-AM and can be streamed online at www.tacomarainiers.com.
From Monday, August 29 through Wednesday, August 31, all children 12 years of age and younger can come to a Rainiers game for just 50 cents. Tickets may be purchased only at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, located at 2502 S. Tyler St., during normal business hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday and during all game days from 10 a.m. through the seventh inning.
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