Rainiers Drop Finale With Sacramento, 7-6

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Tacoma Rainiers came up short in a 7-6 loss in the team's series finale with the Sacramento River Cats played at Cheney Stadium on Sunday.

The Rainiers were forced to dig themselves out of an early hole after home runs from Adam Duvall and Kelby Tomlinson put Sacramento up 3-0 in the top of the third.

Tacoma cut the deficit down to two runs thanks to a run-scoring single from Ketel Marte in the bottom of that inning. A three-run effort helped the team storm to a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Zach Shank and Leury Bonilla each hit RBI singles to tie the score, and Marte plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

The lead held only until the fifth, when Duvall homered again - this time delivering a solo shot that evened the score at 4-4. Tacoma found themselves trailing again by the sixth after Ryan Lollis hit an RBI single and Carlos Triunfel scored on a wild pitch that put the River Cats up 6-4

Leon Landry brought the Rainiers within a run on a sacrifice fly hit in the bottom of the sixth, only to have Sacramento go up 7-5 when Triunfel countered with his own sacrifice fly in the eighth. Justin Ruggiano plated Landry with a ground rule double in the bottom of the eighth to again bring Tacoma within a run, but the next four Rainiers batters were retired to end the game.

James Gillheeney (1-1) was dealt the loss after surrendering six runs on ten hits through 5.0 innings. The left-hander fanned two and walked one in his second start with the Rainiers this season.

The Rainiers (45-50) begin the second leg of a season-high 12-game homestand when they open a four-game series with Salt Lake tomorrow, July 20. Right-hander Forrest Snow (7-6, 3.03) is expected to start for Tacoma. The Bees are slated to start right-hander Alex Sanabia (1-10, 8.17). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 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.