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Rainiers Earn Wild Win Over Fresno, 11-10

Ketel Marte notches four hits, finishes home run shy of the cycle
July 27, 2015

TACOMA, Wash. - A pair of wild pitches in the eighth inning by Fresno reliever James Hoyt lifted the Tacoma Rainiers to an 11-10 victory over the Grizzlies in the series finale on Monday afternoon at Cheney Stadium. The victory earned the Rainiers a 3-1 series win and a 10-6 season-series win over Fresno.

Fresno brought across seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to erase what was a six-run Tacoma lead. Leadoff singles from Ketel Marte and Leury Bonilla, in addition to a stolen base by Marte, put runners on second and third for the Rainiers in the eighth inning. A pair of wild pitches from Hoyt with Justin Ruggiano at bat, the second of which came during an attempted intentional ball, scored the runners and gave the Rainiers an 11-10 win.

Infielder Ketel Marte checked in with his first four-hit game of the season and finished the game 4-for-5 with two doubles, one triple, and three runs scored. Patrick Kivlehan, Jabari Blash, and John Hicks all checked in with two hits apiece and combined for seven RBI.

The Grizzlies opened the game with a pair of runs in the first inning - it was the eighth time in the past 12 games the Rainiers allowed runs in the opening frame. Robbie Grossman smacked a one-out double and came around to score on Tyler White's RBI single to give Fresno a 1-0 lead. Domingo Santana added to the lead in the next at bat with a solo home run to push the lead to 2-0.

The Rainiers followed the early start by Fresno with one of their own, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a three-run home run from Hicks.

Leading 8-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Blash sent out a solo home run to left-center field to extend the Tacoma advantage. It was the fifth home run in 12 games for Blash, who is hitting .289 (13x45) with 13 RBI since returning to the Rainiers on July 16.

Tacoma starting pitcher Roenis Elias worked 6.0 innings and allowed eight runs - seven earned - on 13 hits. The 13 hits allowed by Elias were the second most by a Rainiers pitcher this season.

The Rainiers (49-54) begin an eight-day road trip with a four game series against El Paso (53-48) tomorrow, July 28. Tacoma will open the set with right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (0-2, 7.20) on the mound. The Chihuahuas are expected to start righty Daniel McCutchen (6-5, 4.01). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

All tickets, group outings and suites packages for the 2015 season are available for purchase in-person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online at www.tacomarainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.