Saturday slugfest sets a Rainiers era HR record

Tacoma blasts 4 straight homers in 4th inning | CF Adam Engel: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB

July 30, 2023

Tacoma, WA (7/29/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (51-50, 14-12) extended their win streak to four games with a 10-2 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (47-53, 10-16) on Saturday at Cheney Stadium. The Rainiers improved to 4-1 in the weeklong series, with Darren McCaughan earning his fifth career winning decision

Tacoma, WA (7/29/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (51-50, 14-12) extended their win streak to four games with a 10-2 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (47-53, 10-16) on Saturday at Cheney Stadium. The Rainiers improved to 4-1 in the weeklong series, with Darren McCaughan earning his fifth career winning decision against the Bees. Tacoma has hit a season-high five homers in consecutive games.

A pair of singles by Jake Scheiner (1-for-4, RBI, R, BB) and Robbie Tenerowicz (2-for-5, RBI, R) batted the Rainiers out of a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first inning, driving in Cooper Hummel (1B) and Brian O’Keefe (BB) for a 2-1 Tacoma lead.

Zach DeLoach (13), Adam Engel (7), Mark Mathias (1) and Sam Haggerty (6) combined for four consecutive home runs to begin the home fourth, giving Tacoma a 6-1 jump on the Bees. Haggerty, who is batting .368 over 22 games since July 1 with a 1.109 OPS, sent the fourth straight homer off the left field foul pole at a 107.2 mph exit velocity.

The home run derby marked the first time Tacoma has hit four straight blasts in “Rainiers” history (since 1995). The rally was also the first time the Rainiers have hit three consecutive homers in a game in 10 years (Carlos Peguero, Rich Poythress and Nate Tenbrink on June 13, 2013 at Las Vegas).

Engel hit his eighth home run as a Rainier and second of the night in the fifth to score Tenerowicz (1B), extending Tacoma’s lead to 8-1.

Electricity remained in Tacoma’s bats following the seventh inning stretch. Mathias brought Scheiner (BB) home on a base hit, and was followed by Haggerty’s RBI double to right field. Through seven, the Rainiers led 10-1.

RHP Darren McCaughan made his 76th career start for the Rainiers, tying Tim Harikkala (1995-98) for fifth-most in franchise history. McCaughan (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 (E)R, 1 BB, 9 K) cruised through his final six innings scoreless and retired the last 14 batters he faced.

McCaughan has tallied 375 strikeouts with Tacoma, 14 away from passing Ryan Franklin (1997-2001) for fourth-most in Tacoma’s Triple-A history (since 1960).

A ninth inning home run by Salt Lake’s Jack Lopez gained one back for the Bees, the only blemish against the Tacoma bullpen. Lopez has homered four times in five games on this road trip.

The Rainiers conclude this homestand at Cheney Stadium against the Bees on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:35 PT. LHP Kyle Hart is scheduled for Tacoma, against Salt Lake southpaw Jhonathan Diaz. A victory would make for a season-long five-game win streak.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2023 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every home game can be viewed with a MiLB.TV subscription.

About the Tacoma Rainiers

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Pacific Coast League and have been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.

The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.