Tacoma Drops 8-7 Slugfest To Las Vegas

TACOMA, Wash. - The Tacoma Rainiers (39-37) dropped game two against the Las Vegas 51s (30-48) Sunday at Cheney Stadium by a final score of 8-7.
Las Vegas scored seven runs in the final three innings to come back from a 5-1 deficit, getting 10 hits off of the Rainiers bullpen.

Tacoma starter Andrew Moore (3-1) worked five solid innings on the rubber, giving up one earned run off of just four hits. He struck out four batters and left the game with a 2-1 lead.
The Rainiers bats were red hot to start the game, with first baseman Daniel Vogelbach powering a first inning double to right field, scoring second baseman Gordon Beckham from second.
Tacoma put one more on the board in the second inning when catcher Steven Baron drove in third baseman D.J. Peterson with a one out single, making the score 2-0.
Las Vegas fired back in the top of the fourth, scoring a quick run before Moore shut down the remaining batters, stranding two runners.
The Rainiers then scored in the bottom of the fifth inning, when left fielder Tyler O'Neill drove in Baron with a sacrifice groundout, giving Tacoma a 3-1 lead.
The bottom of the sixth brought more scoring for the Rainiers, with right fielder Andrew Aplin slapping a single to left field, scoring shortstop Tyler Smith. Aplin later scored off of a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Leonys Martin. Tacoma ended the inning leading 5-1.
The 51s rallied in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two runs to cut the Rainiers lead to just two runs, with a score of 5-3.
The Rainiers were not to be overshadowed, as centerfielder Boog Powell hit a double in the right field corner, scoring O'Neill from second after a successful stolen base. Two at-bats later, Smith drove in Powell with another double, giving the Rainiers a 7-3 lead after seven innings.
Las Vegas heated up in the top of the eight, scoring four runs to tie up the high scoring game, 7-7. 
The 51s scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth off an RBI single from Dominic Smith. Rainiers right hander Jean Machi gave up the run, and was credited with the blown save and the loss.
Tacoma was led offensively by Baron (3x4, RBI, R), Beckham (2x5, R), Powell (2x5, RBI, R), Smith (2x4, RBI, R), and Vogelbach (2x5, RBI).
The Rainiers face off against the 51s again in game three of a four-game series Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. PT. Tacoma right-hander Casey Lawrence (0-0, 5.74) and Las Vegas right-hander Wilfredo Boscan (3-5, 4.58) will pitch.
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.