Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes - July 4, 2021 vs. Reno Aces (12:35 p.m. PT)
July 4, 2021 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
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Tacoma Rainiers (26-23) vs. Reno Aces (34-17)
Sunday, July 4, 2021 @ 12:35 p.m. PT | Cheney Stadium - Tacoma, WA
RHP Brian Schlitter (1-0, 6.41) vs. RHP Tyler Gilbert (4-1, 3.65)
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rainiers dropped the third straight game of the series to the Aces, 8-3, Saturday night at Cheney Stadium. RHP Robert Dugger made his second start for the Rainiers and surrendered six earned runs on eight hits over three innings of work. Dugger was pegged with his first loss on the season.
LF Eric Filia and 2B Donovan Walton each had multi-hit nights and blasted solo home runs in the effort. 1B Jantzen Witte went 1-for-3 with a double, and picked up his 20th RBI on the year with a sacrifice fly in the 8th. The Rainiers struggled to capitalize on their limited opportunities, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranding eight runners on base over the course of the evening.
CATCH FILIA ON FIRST: Playing in his first game since June 25 at Albuquerque, LF Eric Filia launched his first home run of the season. In addition, he reached base in all four plate appearances. Filia went 2-for-2 with a HR, single, and two walks. His .394 OBP is good for fourth on Tacoma's active roster.
YOU GO, GODOY: DH José Godoy extended his season-long hitting streak to 8 games by going 1-for-4 Friday night. During his hitting streak, Godoy is 10-for-34 (.294) with 6 RBI, 5 runs and 3 doubles.
RUNS ARE FUN: The Rainiers are the only team in the Triple-A West that has yet to play in a shutout (win or loss) this season. This is the deepest the Rainiers have gotten into a campaign (49 games) without at least one shutout game since 2011, when it did not happen until the 54th game of the year.
STAYING AFLOAT: The Rainiers enter Sunday at 3 games above .500 on the season. Tacoma has not been 3 games over the .500 mark on July 4 since 2018, and this is just the 5th time since 2007. The Rainiers start the day 7.0 games out of first place in the West Division behind Reno.
SHARING THE WEALTH: 23 different Tacoma hitters have hit at least 1 home run this season, tied with Reno for most in the league and also tied with Syracuse for most in all of Triple-A.
LF Eric Filia and 2B Donovan Walton each added their names to that list Saturday night. Filia took Kevin McCanna over the right field fence in the 2nd inning for his first longball of the campaign. Walton crushed a Jeremy Rhoades pitch, sending it over the scoreboard in right center field to leadoff the 8th inning.
CONTACT SPORT: Rainiers hitters have struck out 394 times this season, second fewest in affiliated pro baseball (Louisville, 388). In June, Tacoma struck out 176 times in 23 games, 3rd fewest behind only Louisville and Rochester (175).
No Tacoma hitter ranks top-10 in most strikeouts in the Triple-A West. Cal Raleigh's team-low 22 punch outs is tied for 4th in fewest strikeouts among qualified league hitters.
FULL HOUSE: The Rainiers lead all Triple-A clubs with 69 players used through 45 games. The team has used 39 pitchers, including infielder Jantzen Witte, and 31 position players.
Erik Swanson made his Rainiers season debut Saturday in a Major League rehab assignment as he works back from a right groin strain. He pitched a scoreless sixth inning and allowed just one hit.
DOING DEFENSE RIGHT: Since June 11, the Rainiers have committed 11 errors, fewest in the Triple-A West, and rank first in fielding percentage (.985). Tacoma's 35 errors rank 2nd best in the league this season behind El Paso (29).
RUN ON RALEIGH IF YOU DARE: In his first game behind the dish since June 28, C Cal Raleigh caught two Reno baserunners attempting to steal second base. With those two assists Friday, Raleigh has now picked off baserunners attempting a steal at a 31% clip (9-for-29) through 31 games started at catcher.
DAMAGE CONTROL: Tacoma's pitching staff held Reno to a 4-for-12 total with runners in scoring position on Saturday night. The Rainiers hurlers rank 3rd in the Triple-A West in WHIP (1.41) and opponent batting average (.256), while ranking 2nd in hits (116) and walks (54).
R HOUSE PARTY: Saturday night's game had a recorded attendance of 7,616, which broke the season high-water mark for the second consecutive night. The game was Cheney Stadium's largest crowd dating back to August 8, 2017 when they drew 7,666 fans against Nashville.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 4, 2021
- Isotopes Rebound with 12-7 Victory over the Chihuahuas - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Alcántara goes yard twice, River Cats drop heartbreaker in walk-off fashion - Sacramento River Cats
- OKC Dodgers Double up Salt Lake - Oklahoma City Comets
- Dodgers Prevail on Independence Day - Salt Lake Bees
- Strong Pitching Propels Bees Past OKC - Salt Lake Bees
- Tacoma Snaps Brief Losing Streak, Rainiers Hitting and Pitching Shines on 4th of July - Tacoma Rainiers
- Reno Toppled by Tacoma, 7-3 - Reno Aces
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 4, 2021 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes - July 4, 2021 vs. Reno Aces (12:35 p.m. PT) - Tacoma Rainiers
- Aces Notes - Reno Aces
- Aviators Blow Big Early Lead, Lose Fifth in a Row - Las Vegas Aviators
- McCaughan Tosses Fourth Quality Start, Rainiers Struggle to Muster Run Support - Tacoma Rainiers
- Vosler, Maris homer as River Cats blow out Aviators for 3rd straight win - Sacramento River Cats
- Aces Extend Winning Streak to Five with 8-3 Victory over Tacoma - Reno Aces
- Chihuahuas Allow No Hits, Batter Albuquerque in Rain-Shortened Win - El Paso Chihuahuas
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