Six run third boosts Rainiers over Sidewinders

Published on July 19, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tucson Sidewinders News Release


Tacoma, WA - Wladimir Balentien, Rob Johnson and Matt Tuiasosopo each had a pair of RBI in Tacoma's six run third inning as the Rainiers beat the Sidewinders 13-4 on Saturday night to even the series at one game apiece.

Houston Summers, making his Triple-A debut, allowed just a run on two hits through the first two innings but was touched for six runs on five hits in the third. Balentien opened the frame with a solo home run to left-center and capped the scoring with a RBI base hit to left. Johnson had a two run double and Tuiasosopo a two run single to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 7-3 Tacoma lead.

Summers (0-1) threw 89 pitches in his three innings of work and allowed seven runs on seven hits. He walked five and struck out six.

Tacoma added on late against the Tucson bullpen. Shawn Garrett had a two run double off Brandon Medders in the sixth and Victor Diaz hit a mammoth three run home run in the seventh. Oswaldo Navarro's RBI groundout in the eighth finished the Rainiers scoring.

Medders allowed six runs on six hits in his three innings, pushing his ERA for the season to 9.39.

Tucson got off to a good start as Jeff Salazar opened the game with a home run to right. After Tacoma tied the game on Victor Diaz's single in the bottom of the first, Jamie D'Antona put the Sidewinders in front 3-1 with a two run single in the top of the third.

Josh Whitesell went 0 for 3, ending his hitting streak at 19.

The Sidewinders and Rainiers play game three of their series on Sunday afternoon at Cheney Stadium. Right-hander Esmerling Vasquez (1-5, 7.06) starts for Tucson against right-hander Scott Shoemaker (2-2, 5.47) for Tacoma. First pitch is at 1:30. The game will air LIVE on COOL 1450 beginning at 1:20.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 19, 2008


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