OKC Outlasts Rainiers on Saturday
July 17, 2022 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Catcher Brian O'Keefe of the Tacoma Rainiers in action
(Tacoma Rainiers, Credit: Jeff Halstead)
Tacoma, WA - The Tacoma Rainiers (37-51) had their win streak halted at two on Saturday, as the Oklahoma City Dodgers (52-37) grabbed a 3-2 series lead with an 8-4 decision. The finale on Sunday will be the final game for the clubs prior to the All-Star Break.
George Kirby's Triple-A/Rainiers debut was spoiled by a pair of Dodger runs in each of the first two innings. Jason Martin and James Outman each had an RBI single in the opening frame. Martin followed that with a two-run single in the second, amidst a seven-batter inning. Kirby walked one, allowed five hits and struck out two in a planned two-inning appearance (48 pitches, 33 strikes).
Tacoma broke the seal in the home second, when Erick Mejia laser-beamed a line drive homer - which traveled at a speed of 106.7 mph off the bat - to right field to lead off the inning. Mejia's 11th home run of the season preceded Kyle Lewis (walk) scoring on a balk in the third, moved to third base by a Brian O'Keefe double.
OKC broke the game open with three more in the fourth. An eight-batter inning was highlighted by a pair of run-scoring doubles, from Ryan Noda (2 RBI) and former Rainier Ty Kelly for a 7-2 lead. Oklahoma City rounded out their scoring with a Jake Amaya RBI single in the seventh.
Trailing 8-2 in the seventh, the Rainiers ended the night on a positive note with a leadoff single by Mason McCoy, who scored from first when Forrest Wall gapped a double off the bottom of the wall in left. Wall scored when O'Keefe yanked his second double of the night down the line in right.
The series finale will be at 1:35 PT on Sunday at Cheney Stadium. RHP Konner Wade will start for Tacoma, opposite Dodgers top prospect RHP Ryan Pepiot for Oklahoma City. Pepiot will make his second start of this weeklong series, as the Rainiers aim to split the six games.
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.
Images from this story
 Catcher Brian O'Keefe of the Tacoma Rainiers in action (Jeff Halstead) |
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