Rainiers Rally for 6-4 Win, Split Series with Isotopes
Published on May 21, 2023 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
Albuquerque, NM - A deluge that brought rain and hail to Isotopes Park turned a mid-afternoon game into a late afternoon/early evening contest.
Early on, Albuquerque was not deterred by the delay that lasted 90 minutes, as Aaron Schunk clobbered a grand slam in the first inning to give his team an immediate advantage. However, the Tacoma Rainiers slowly chipped away, eventually breaking a tie with two runs in the top of the ninth inning en route to a 6-4 victory on Sunday.
Ex-Isotope Pat Valaika drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth for Tacoma, then Jack Larsen provided an insurance tally on a double.
Topes Scope:
- Despite winning three of the first four contests in the series, Albuquerque settled for a split. They are now 2-4-2 in series this season.
- The Isotopes have dropped five consecutive Sunday games after winning their first three of the year.
- The stoppage of play marked the fourth straight day a contest has been delayed, and the seventh of the season overall. Albuquerque's cumulative delay time is now 5:35 for the 2023 campaign.
- Aaron Schunk clobbered a grand slam in the first inning, Albuquerque's third of the season and his second (May 3 vs. Sugar Land).
- The Isotopes increased their professional baseball leading first inning run total to 50 with the four-spot today.
- Albuquerque was held scoreless and mustered just three hits after the opening frame.
- Left-hander Ben Braymer received the starting assignment for the Isotopes, in his Rockies organizational debut. He walked one batter in a scoreless top of the first before the rain delay began.
- Stephen Jones struck out a trio of batters in two scoreless innings of relief, his third time registering three or more punchouts this season.
- Gavin Hollowell pitched a scoreless inning in his second Triple-A appearance, fanning a pair for the second consecutive outing.
- The Isotopes dropped to 1-4 in contests that are tied after the eighth inning.
- Rainiers starting pitcher Darren McCaughan warmed up on the mound prior to the teams being called off the field in the first inning. Despite not throwing an actual pitch, McCaughan does get credit for an appearance.
- Albuquerque used seven hurlers in the contest, tying their season-high reached on three previous occasions, most recently May 2 vs. Sugar Land.
On Deck: After a day off tomorrow, the Isotopes remain at home as they welcome the Round Rock Express to town for the start of a six-game series. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Neither club has announced a starting pitcher.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 21, 2023
- Rainiers surge to series split on Sunday - Tacoma Rainiers
- Rainiers Rally for 6-4 Win, Split Series with Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Homer Streak Continues but River Cats Drop Finale to Aces - Sacramento River Cats
- Wild Pitch Walk off Finishes Series for Sugar Land - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Dodgers Rally Late to Tip Sugar Land - Oklahoma City Comets
- Las Vegas Sneaks by Salt Lake - Salt Lake Bees
- Stefanic Delivers Walk-Off Bees Win - Salt Lake Bees
- Sánchez, English Go Deep in Hail-Shortened 10-5 Aces Win over River Cats - Reno Aces
- E-Train Wins Third Straight, Splits Series with El Paso - Round Rock Express
- Road Trip Ends on a Downer with Narrow Loss - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes: at ABQ (12:35 PT) - Tacoma Rainiers
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - May 21, 2023 - Oklahoma City Comets
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