Late Tacoma rally knocks off Sacramento
Things looked grim for the River Cats when Matt Tuiasosopo lined a run-scoring triple to right field, giving the Rainiers an early 1-0 lead. Then, River Cats starting pitcher Guillermo Moscoso found his groove.
The 6-foot-1 hurler out of Lakeland, Fla. struck out the next two batters before finishing with four hits allowed and one walk with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
The River Cats responded in the first as, after back-to-back walks by second baseman Jemile Weeks and shortstop Eric Sogard, left fielder Chris Carter singled home Weeks to tie the game.
Rainiers starter Blake Beavan settled down after his first inning as well. Beavan ultimately pitched 4.0 innings, striking out four with three walks and two hits allowed before being drilled in the thigh by a Josh Donaldson line-drive in the fourth. Beavan finished the inning, but was pulled to begin the fifth for lefty Cesar Jimenez.
Neither team would score until Carlos Peguero singled off DeHoyos, scoring Alex Liddi and giving the Rainiers a 2-1 advantage in the sixth.
The River Cats threatened in the sixth when Carter logged a lead-off walk then stole second with one out. Donaldson would strike out, bringing Steve Tolleson to the plate with a chance to tie the game at two.
To exploit the righty-righty matchup, the Rainiers pulled Jimenez in favor of Justin Miller. Miller responded by striking out Tolleson on five pitches.
After giving up a two-out single to Dustin Ackley in the seventh, River Cats reliever Joe Bateman relieved DeHoyos with one on and center fielder Greg Halman due up. Halman sailed a double over Carter's head in left field, scoring Ackley and putting the Rainiers up 3-1 with two out and a man in scoring position. Bateman then got the next batter, Tuiasosopo, to ground out on one pitch to end the inning.
After the seventh-inning stretch, Sacramento first baseman Anthony Recker dropped a bloop single between Ackley and Halman in shallow center field with one out. Miller then walked right fielder Adam Heether to bring up the top of the order with two on and one out. After Weeks flied out to left, Miller walked Sogard on a wild pitch, bringing up Carter with two out and the bases loaded. Carter battled, fouling off multiple offerings, but the slugger ultimately struck out to end the inning.
Bateman quickly retired the Rainiers in the eighth, allowing a single with two strikeouts.
Entering the bottom of the frame, leading 3-1, the Rainiers pulled Miller in favor of veteran Denny Bautista. Bautista retired River Cats outfielder Matt Carson on a deep fly ball before walking Donaldson. After a stolen base by Donaldson, Bautista struck out Tolleson and designated hitter Adrian Cardenas to end yet another River Cats threat.
"Both teams hit the ball hard," Carson said. "It just doesn't carry as well at this point in the season as it does once it warms up."
Sacramento made some noise in the ninth when, with two outs, Weeks singled and Sogard reached base on an error to bring up Carter for one final chance to send the fans home happy. Rainiers closer Chris Smith induced a game-ending grounder, giving Tacoma the 3-1 victory, tying the opening series at a game apiece.
The series will continue at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday where the first 2,500 fans will receive thundersticks courtesy of KCRA.