PCL Tacoma Rainiers

Kelenic Leads off with Home Run, Rainiers Need Second Rally to Top Isotopes

Published on June 30, 2021 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


Jarred Kelenic of the Tacoma Rainiers
Jarred Kelenic of the Tacoma Rainiers
(Tacoma Rainiers, Credit: Jeff Halstead)

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - The Rainiers took a 3-0 lead into the 7th inning on Tuesday in Albuquerque but needed another offensive outburst to claim a 5-4 victory after the Isotopes tied the game in the late innings. Jarred Kelenic went 3-for-5 with a 1st inning leadoff home run and Luis Liberato poked a two-run single for Tacoma's game-winning runs in the 8th inning.

Kelenic's leadoff blast to right field came on a 2-1 pitch against Albuquerque (15-33) starter Brandon Gold. The home run was Kelenic's seventh Triple-A round-tripper and his second 1st inning leadoff homer of the six-game series.

Southpaw David Huff held Albuquerque scoreless across the first four innings, surrendering seven hits while striking out seven. Tuesday was Huff's third start with four or more innings pitched and one or fewer earned runs allowed.

Tacoma (26-20) added to their advantage with two runs in the 5th inning. The Rainiers strung together four consecutive one-out singles by Kelenic, catcher José Godoy, designated hitter Cal Raleigh and left fielder Dillon Thomas. Raleigh and Thomas drove home the first two baserunners to extend the lead, 3-0.

Righty Zack Weiss kept the shutout intact with a pair of scoreless innings in the 5th and 6th for the Rainiers. Weiss gave up two hits and as many walks while striking out four.

Left-hander Daniel Zamora gave up Albuquerque's three tying runs on four hits in the 7th inning. After a two-out walk placed runners at first and second base, Taylor Guerrieri (2-0) entered for Tacoma and forced a ground out to strand the potential go-ahead runs.

In the 8th inning, third baseman Wyatt Mathisen reached on a leadoff single, and first baseman José Marmolejos was later intentionally walked to set up a potential double play. Second baseman Jantzen Witte singled to load the bases and Liberato found a hole on the right side of the infield for a two-run, go-ahead single that plated Mathisen and Marmolejos.

Guerrieri also pitched the final two innings for Tacoma and allowed a run on a hit, two walks and a hit batter, but the righty forced a fly out to end the game with the potential tying and winning runs on base.

The Rainiers are off Wednesday as they travel back to Tacoma for the start of a six-game series against the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. First pitch of Thursday's series opener at Cheney Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2021 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every home game can be viewed with an MiLB.TV subscription. (Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.)

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Images from this story

Jarred Kelenic of the Tacoma Rainiers
Jarred Kelenic of the Tacoma Rainiers
(Jeff Halstead)		   



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 30, 2021


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