Walk-off rally finishes 5-1 homestand
August 13, 2023 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Jake Scheiner of the Tacoma Rainiers
(Tacoma Rainiers, Credit: Jeff Halstead)
Tacoma, WA - The Tacoma Rainiers (61-53, 24-15) walked off the Oklahoma City Dodgers (73-39, 23-16) on Sunday, rallying to win the series finale 3-2 in 10 innings. The Rainiers celebrated their fifth walk-off victory of the season, improving to 7-7 in extras with their 31st come-from-behind win of 2023. Tacoma has also won 10 of 11 games at Cheney Stadium (34-23 at home), and at 24-15 in the second half, will enter the off day no worse than tied for the Pacific Coast League's second playoff spot.
Oklahoma City struck first, as David Freitas (walk) scored on an error in the fourth, for a Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The run snapped a streak of nine consecutive runs scored via homer for OKC, their first run scored without a longball since the eighth inning on Wednesday.
The Rainiers' offense was held in check early, with Ryan Bliss serving as Tacoma's first baserunner after a seventh-inning single. Although Bliss was stranded, he stole his 39th base of the season (ninth in Triple-A and fourth as a Rainier).
Tacoma finally broke through late, in the eighth. With two down, Adam Engel worked a full-count walk, thanks to an ABS challenge system ball four. The next batter, Riley Unroe, promptly doubled into the left field corner, scoring Engel to knot the game 1-1 and preserve the Rainiers' streak of 164 games without being shut out; Tacoma was last blanked on August 3, 2022 at Sacramento.
The Dodgers reclaimed the lead in the 10th, with Freitas singling home Miguel Vargas (automatic runner) to give OKC a 2-1 advantage. The lead would not last though, as Bliss singled home Jake Scheiner (automatic runner) and Cooper Hummel (walk) with two down in the home 10th, securing the walk-off win.
Lefty Logan Allen delivered a solid spot start for the Rainiers, surrendering a run on five hits and three walks over four innings of work, striking out two. The Tacoma bullpen of Juan Then, Casey Sadler, Zach Muckenhirn, Ryan Jensen, Eduard Bazardo and Diego Castillo was strong, combining for only an unearned run on four hits and a walk over six innings pitched, retiring 10 via strikeout.
Dodger starter Ryan Pepiot was dominant Sunday, beginning his outing with six perfect frames. Pepiot finished with 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing the mere single and striking out 11. OKC reliever Alec Gamboa added a shutout inning as well.
The Rainiers are off Monday while traveling to Sacramento for their third and final series against the River Cats this season - the clubs have split their 12 previous meetings this year. Game one is slated for Tuesday at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PT. RHP Adam Oller will take the ball for Tacoma, while lefty Kyle Harrison gets the nod for Sacramento.
Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2023 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every home game can be viewed with a MiLB.TV subscription.
Images from this story
 Jake Scheiner of the Tacoma Rainiers (Jeff Halstead) |
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 13, 2023
- Round Rock Collects Six-Game Sweep Over Albuquerque - Round Rock Express
- Walk-off rally finishes 5-1 homestand - Tacoma Rainiers
- Dodgers Falter in 10 - Oklahoma City Comets
- 10th Inning Victory for Aces - Salt Lake Bees
- Aces Snatch Series Finale on Sánchez's Walk-Off Free Pass - Reno Aces
- Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes: vs. OKC (1:35 PT) - Tacoma Rainiers
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - August 13, 2023 - Oklahoma City Comets
- León Homers Three Times as Space Cowboys Lose Shootout with Chihuahuas - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- ÃâÃÂRiver Cats Start Hot but Fall to Las Vegas 10-8 - Sacramento River Cats
- El Paso Beats Sugar Land, 18-11 - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Kyle Lewis Is Reno's Superhero with a Grand Swing on Marvel Night - Reno Aces
- Dodgers Downed by Rainiers, 5-1 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Milone Masterful as Tacoma Clinches Series - Tacoma Rainiers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
