Rainiers Overpower Chihuahuas For 11-7 Win

EL PASO, Texas. - The Tacoma Rainiers (9-3) collected an 11-7 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas (3-8) on Tuesday night at Southwest University Park.

Catcher Mike Zunino (2x4) notched a pair of hits in the contest but did not hit a home run, breaking his streak of five consecutive games with a round-tripper.

Zunino, shortstop Chris Taylor (2x4), first baseman Efren Navarro (2x5), designated hitter Rob Brantly (2x4), and third baseman Ed Lucas (2x4) all recorded multiple hits and combined to score eight runs with six RBI.

Tacoma scored all of their runs in the fourth and fifth innings, pushing across six and five runs in each frame, respectively. 

With the Rainiers trailing 2-0, Taylor drew a walk off El Paso starter Jeremy Guthrie to open the fourth. A single from Navarro and a double from left fielder Stefen Romero scored Taylor, and set up a two-run single from Zunino to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead. Brantly laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Zunino to third and Lucas drew a walk, setting up a three-run home run from right fielder Mike Baxter, his first of the year.

The Rainiers notched RBI singles from Zunino and Lucas, a two-run double from Brantly, and an RBI double from O'Malley in the sixth to extend their lead to 11-2.

El Paso worked single runs in the bottom of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to close the Rainiers advantage to 11-5. The first three Chihuahuas batters to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning recorded hits and scored one run. Jason Hagerty's RBI double play secured El Paso's final run of the night, producing the final score of 11-7.

Tacoma starting pitcher Cody Martin secured his third win of the season after working 5.1 innings and allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Paul Fry and Mayckol Guaipe covered the final 3.2 innings from the Rainiers bullpen and combined to allow three runs on seven hits.

The Rainiers and Chihuahuas continue the series tomorrow, Wednesday, April 20. Tacoma will hand the ball to left-hander James Paxton (0-2, 11.37), while El Paso is scheduled to start righty Daniel McCutchen (2-0, 7.36). First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 a.m. PT.

All tickets, group outings and suites packages for the 2016 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.