PCL Tacoma Rainiers

Salt Lake Slides by Tacoma 5-3, with Big Third Inning

Published on July 23, 2022 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


Salt Lake City, UT - The Tacoma Rainiers (39-52) slipped to 1-1 post All-Star Break on Saturday night, succumbing to the Salt Lake Bees (43-49) by a 5-3 final. Jarred Kelenic and Mason McCoy each had two hits and a double to lead Tacoma. The crowd of 10,503 at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City was the largest to witness a game involving the Rainiers this season.

What started as a sleepy evening turned sour in a hurry for Tacoma. In a scoreless game with two out and nobody on base in the bottom of the third inning, the Bees stung six consecutive hits to score all their runs and take a 5-0 lead. Matt Thaiss (two-run double), Jack Mayfield (RBI single) and Monte Harrison (two-run single) drove in the runs.

Tacoma was on the board in the fifth; Forrest Wall and McCoy rapped consecutive singles to lead off the inning. McCoy eventually scored after a pair of groundouts by Trey Amburgey and Kelenic (RBI).

Salt Lake starter Cesar Valdez flummoxed the Rainiers for six complete innings, allowing only four hits and a walk. The run against him was earned, and Valdez struck out six.

Still trailing 5-1 in the eighth, Kevin Padlo beat out an infield single with two down. A batter later Brian O'Keefe went deep for his 11th homer of the season, halving the Salt Lake lead. It was as close as Tacoma would come, however.

The Rainiers bullpen continued its exemplary run though, as the quartet of Drew Steckenrider and lefties Nick Margevicius, Fernando Abad and Anthony Misiewicz combined to toss 5.1 scoreless IP, allowing only three hits and a walk while striking out six.

The series finale and rubber match will be on Sunday at Smith's Ballpark, another 5:35 PT first pitch (6:35 MT). RHP Darren McCaughan will make his club-high 18th start for Tacoma, against Salt Lake RHP Touki Toussaint.

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.

About the Tacoma Rainiers

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Pacific Coast League and have been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.

The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found at WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.




Pacific Coast League Stories from July 23, 2022


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