PCL1 Tacoma Rainiers

Zunino Leads Rainiers Past Fresno, 8-6

Published on April 7, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Catcher Mike Zunino homered, doubled and drove in five runs as the Tacoma Rainiers bounced back to capture an 8-6 win over the Fresno Grizzlies at Chukchansi Park on Saturday night.

Zunino gave the Rainiers an early 3-0 lead after belting a two-out, three-run home in the top of the first inning. With Tacoma holding onto a 5-4 edge in the eighth, the 2012 first round draft pick drove in two more runs with a two-out double to left field. Zunino is batting .417 through his first three games this season, and each of his first five hits of 2013 have now gone for extra bases.

Tacoma trailed Fresno 4-3 before outfielder Endy Chavez scored the game-tying run on Carlos Peguero's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Chavez later plated Scott Savastano on a go-ahead RBI-single in the eighth, fueling what turned into a four-run inning.

The Rainiers combined to collect 12 hits in the contest. Chavez, Zunino and outfielder Eric Thames led the lineup with two-hit performances. Thames has now turned in three consecutive multi-hit efforts to start the season and is batting .545 to start the year.

Reliever Brian Moran (1-0) picked up the win in his first appearance of the season. The left-hander fanned five batters over a pair of perfect innings in the seventh and eighth.

Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman did not garner a decision in his Rainiers debut. Pitching professionally for the first time since 2010, the Pasco, WA native surrendered three runs on 10 hits over 5.0 innings. He struck out two batters and issued a pair of walks.

The Rainiers (2-1) look to capture a series win over the Grizzlies when the club plays the final game of a four-game series at Fresno at 2:05 p.m. tomorrow, April 7. Left-hander James Paxton (0-0, -.--) will make his Rainiers and Triple-A debut for Tacoma against left-hander Michael Kickham (0-0, -.--) for Fresno.

Every Rainiers game throughout the 2013 season can be heard live on South Sound Sports 850-AM and is available for online streaming at www.tacomarainiers.com.

To purchase season tickets, group packages or party decks for the 2013 season, call (253) 752-7707 or email tickets@tacomarainiers.com. Up-to-date news and notes throughout the season can be found at www.tacomarainiers.com and by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 7, 2013


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