TACOMA, Wash. - Tacoma Rainiers (23-12) left fielder Tyler O'Neill walloped an RBI triple to center field during the eighth inning of Sunday's contest, helping Tacoma snatch the series finale, 6-4, over the Round Rock Express (15-22) at Cheney Stadium.Center fielder Leonys Martin (3x4, R, RBI), shortstop Tyler Smith (1x4,
TACOMA, Wash. - Tacoma Rainiers (23-12) left fielder Tyler O'Neill walloped an RBI triple to center field during the eighth inning of Sunday's contest, helping Tacoma snatch the series finale, 6-4, over the Round Rock Express (15-22) at Cheney Stadium.
Center fielder Leonys Martin (3x4, R, RBI), shortstop Tyler Smith (1x4, R, HR, RBI) and designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (1x3, 2 R, HR, RBI) led the Rainiers offense in another productive outing for Tacoma's bats.
Rainiers right-hander Andrew Moore (1-0) struck out five Express batters, walked three, and allowed just two runs through six innings in his second start with Tacoma.
Tacoma went to work in the bottom half of the first, bringing seven batters to the plate and pushing across two runs. Catcher Mike Zunino slapped an RBI double scoring third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean. Martin then stepped to the plate and lined a single up the middle to score Vogelbach from third and increase the Tacoma lead to 2-0.
Round Rock would tie the game in the top half of the fourth. Ronald Guzmán drilled a solo shot to left field to cut the deficit in half to 2-1. After Moore then issued a pair of walks, César Puello lined an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Moore eventually induced a double play with the bases loaded to escape the jam.
Smith ripped a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead - the Rainiers fifth home run of the season that has landed in the R Yard in left field.
Vogelbach would add solo blast of his own to right center in the bottom of the fifth, extending the Rainiers lead to 4-2.
Rainiers lefty Dean Kiekhefer (0-0) allowed a two-run home run off the bat of Guzman - his second of the game - to level the score at 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning. The Tacoma bullpen had tallied three consecutive scoreless innings before Guzman's equalizer.
Martin singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth and came around to score when left fielder Tyler O'Neill smacked a triple off the wall in center field. First baseman D.J. Peterson then launched a sacrifice fly to center to score O'Neill and moved the score to 6-4.
Tacoma right-hander Ryne Harper (2-0, 2.20) came in to get the final four outs for the Rainiers and didn't allow a single Express hitter to get on base, notching his second victory of the season.
The Rainiers have the day off tomorrow, then return to action Tuesday against the Storm Chasers in Omaha. Right-hander Chris Heston (2-1, 3.25) will take the hill for Tacoma, while left-hander Eric Skogland (1-3, 5.16) will toe the rubber for Omaha.
All tickets, group outings and suites packages for the 2017 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.
