Five Tacoma Pitchers Combine for 5-Hit Shutout at Salt Lake

July 22, 2022 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

Salt Lake City, UT - The Tacoma Rainiers (39-51) opened their post-break schedule on Friday night by finishing their fifth shutout victory of the season, with a 6-0 decision over the Salt Lake Bees (42-49). The clubs are playing a three-game series to open the second "half."

After a scoreless third of a game, Tacoma struck first in the fourth inning. Jarred Kelenic led off with a walk, and Drew Ellis followed with being hit by a pitch. Brian O'Keefe lined an RBI single to center and Ellis scored on a wild pitch, making it 2-0 Rainiers.

Tacoma left-hander Austin Warner was tapped to start close to first pitch (LHP Justus Sheffield was scratched), and he responded by facing only one over the minimum over his three innings, with the aid of a double play ball. Warner struck out two in a perfect first inning, four for the game, and did not walk a batter while allowing two hits.

The Rainiers bullpen went on to strike out four more Bees batters, as Brennan Bernardino (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K), Kyle Bird (1.0 IP), Taylor Williams in his Tacoma debut (1.0 IP, 1 K) and Patrick Weigel (1.0 IP) each ended the night with a clean sheet. Tacoma walked only one batter in a game for the 17th time this season on Friday, and it was the third time in four games the Rainiers surrendered a lone walk (no games with zero walks yet this season).

With the visitors still leading 2-0 with one out in the ninth, Scott Heineman poked a double to right field with the bases loaded, scoring O'Keefe (walk) and Erick Mejia (E3). Forrest Wall immediately followed with a two-run double of his own to right, scoring both Zach Green (walk) and Heineman, blowing the game wide open with far more insurance than needed.

The middle game of the series will begin with another 5:35 PT/6:35 MT first pitch on Saturday at Smith's Ballpark. RHP Chris Mazza is scheduled to open another bullpen affair for Tacoma; RHP Cesar Valdez will start for Salt Lake.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2022 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every game can be viewed with a MiLB.TV subscription.

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