PCL Tacoma Rainiers

Rainiers Soar Past Aviators, 12-8

Published on August 12, 2022 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


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

Tacoma, WA - The Tacoma Rainiers (49-58) powered past the Las Vegas Aviators (52-55) 12-8 on Thursday night at Cheney Stadium, taking a 2-1 series lead. After Wednesday's 3-0 affair, the two teams combined for 20 runs on 29 hits. The Rainiers tallied 26 total bases and were 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

Las Vegas starter Jared Koenig, who came into the game with a 3.83 ERA in 13 starts, ran into trouble in the home second. Following an Erick Mejia single and a Zach Green walk, Marcus Wilson lined a single into left, scoring Mejia from second and breaking the scoreless tie. With two out, Jarred Kelenic snuck a ground ball under the glove of Aviators first baseman Dermis Garcia for a double. Even though the hit appeared to be foul, first base umpire Justin Robinson ruled it fair, allowing Green and Wilson to score on the play. The next batter, Abraham Toro, lined a ball into the left-center gap. Although Toro was gunned down trying to stretch the single into a double, Kelenic scored on the play, giving the Rainiers a four-run lead.

Left fielder Dalton Kelly pulled Las Vegas within two in the fourth. With two out and Beau Taylor on first (walk), Kelly slugged an 0-2 slider from RHP Darren McCaughan over the wall in left for a two-run homer. The fourth inning shot, which snapped the Tacoma pitchers' scoreless inning streak at 12, was the only damage the Aviators could do against McCaughan. The righty threw five strong innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Both teams traded blows in the sixth. After Garcia led off the top of the frame with a walk and Beau Taylor reached on a single with two out, Kelly struck again. The Las Vegas nine-hitter homered to right, his second of the night, giving the Aviators a 5-4 advantage. The Rainiers responded with seven runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Zach Green drove in Jonathan Villar (single) on a double to left. After a Wilson walk, Derek Hill tripled to center, plating both runners. Kelenic followed by singling up the middle, scoring Hill. Toro and Trammell then reached on a walk and single, loading the bases and setting the stage for a Brian O'Keefe RBI groundout, which scored Kelenic. The next batter, Villar, drove in Toro and Trammell on a single. The seven-run inning was Tacoma's second largest of the season, and after the dust settled, the Rainiers found themselves ahead 11-5.

Tacoma tacked on another run in the seventh. Green crushed the fourth pitch of the inning over the wall in left, giving the Rainiers a seven run lead.

The Aviators refused to go down without a fight. In the eighth, Nate Mondou drew a bases-loaded walk, pushing across Matt Davidson. Later in the inning, Beau Taylor scored on a passed ball, making it a 12-7 game. Las Vegas scored once more in the ninth on an RBI single by Luis Barrera, but Tacoma would hold on and win by four.

The Rainiers take on the Aviators next on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. PT at Cheney Stadium. LHP Justus Sheffield gets the start for Tacoma and will face LHP Ken Waldichuck.

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.

Check out the Tacoma Rainiers Statistics

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Images from this story

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 12, 2022


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