PCL1 Tacoma Rainiers

Danish Struggles as Sacramento Takes Game Three from Rainiers

Published on April 7, 2019 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


Tacoma Rainiers on the basepaths
Tacoma Rainiers on the basepaths
(Tacoma Defiance)

Sacramento, California - With the help of a strong bullpen effort, the Tacoma Rainiers flirted with another big comeback on Saturday night at Raley Field, but an early nine-run differential was too much for the offense to surmount as the Sacramento River Cats claimed game three of the five-game series, 11-5.

After Rainiers (1-2) starter Tyler Danish (0-1) was roughed up for 10 River Cats (2-1) runs in 2 1/3 innings, South African right-hander Tayler Scott, righty Robinson Leyer and southpaw Matt Tenuta combined for the final 17 outs by allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. Leyer, who took the Opening Night loss in the 11th inning on Thursday, bounced back with 2 1/3 hitless frames where he struck out three.

As a staff, Tacoma pitchers gave up the 11 Sacramento runs, all earned, on 13 hits while walking five and striking out seven.

Tacoma clawed back with runs in the second and fifth innings. First baseman Austin Nola crushed his first homer of the season on a full-count pitch off Sacramento starter Shaun Anderson (1-0). The Tacoma slugger scored on a fielding error by first baseman Zach Green two innings later off the bat of center fielder Ian Miller.

The Rainiers were headed in the right direction after Kristopher Negron clubbed his first home run in the sixth off lefty Steven Okert, a three-run blast which plated Shed Long and shortstop J.P. Crawford, but lost momentum in the eighth when they failed to cash in on a one out, bases loaded opportunity.

Rainiers manager Daren Brown moved Shed Long from second base to left field on Saturday and it didn't affect his hot bat as the lefty hitter finished 3-for-5 with a run scored. The Mariners No. 12 prospect (MLB.com) is 6-for-14 (.429) with four runs including three on Thursday, which matched a career-high for the Birmingham, AL native.

Overall, Tacoma plated their five runs in the contest off seven hits including their two round-trippers. The Rainiers supplemented their attack by drawing four walks from Sacramento pitchers.

The five-game series continues on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PDT against Sacramento as Mariners top prospect Justus Sheffield takes the mound. The left-hander has not played a regular season game as a Seattle farmhand since being acquired from the New York Yankees along with Opening Night starter Erik Swanson and Double-A outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams in exchange for ace James Paxton this offseason. Mike Curto will have full coverage on South Sound Talk 850 with audio streaming available on the Tacoma Rainiers TuneIn Radio Network. Video streaming is available on MiLB.TV.

All tickets, group outings, and suites packages for the 2019 season are available for purchase in person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online at TacomaRainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.

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Tacoma Rainiers on the basepaths
Tacoma Rainiers on the basepaths
   



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 7, 2019


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