Sunday Splits: Rainiers and River Cats play to a doubleheader draw

Tacoma, WA (7/25/21) – The Tacoma Rainiers (37-33) shutout the Sacramento River Cats (30-40) for the first 12 innings during two seven-inning games on Sunday at Cheney Stadium, but ultimately split a doubleheader, dropping to 6-6 on this season-long 14-game homestand.

GAME 1

Jantzen Witte opened the scoring by leading off the second inning with a solo homer to right field, also extending his season-high hit streak to 10 games. He’s hit safely in 20 of 24 outings and is 31 for his last 82 following the doubleheader.

Rainiers starter Ian McKinney threw five innings, allowing only a double to Mauricio Dubon in the second. He walked four, however the left-hander struck out six for the winning decision.

Tacoma tacked on plenty of insurance in the sixth; Witte’s third hit of the day resulted in the home side’s second run on a Sam Travis RBI double down the left field line. A Jack Reinheimer RBI single and a Kennie Taylor fielder’s choice (error, no RBI) made it 4-0 (final score).

Jimmy Yacobonis worked a scoreless seventh with a pair of strikeouts to tidy things up for the third Rainiers shutout victory of the season, and their second on this homestand. Wyatt Mills retired the River Cats in order with a strikeout in the sixth.

GAME 2

In a bullpen game for each side, Tacoma’s Luis Liberato interrupted dueling shutouts by yanking a two-out, two-run homer to left field in the fifth inning, after Wyatt Mathisen led off by being hit by a pitch.

Rainiers relievers Brian Schlitter (2 H, 1 K) and Daniel Zamora (0 H, 4 K) were first out for Tacoma, before Sacramento finally broke through in the sixth. Former Rainier Braden Bishop led off with a triple, scoring on a Bryce Johnson sac fly a batter later.

With Tacoma still leading 2-1 in the seventh however, the River Cats rallied for two by stringing together three one-out base hits and an RBI groundout for a 3-2 lead, which would stand as the final.

The Rainiers will next be in action on Monday evening, a 7:05 first pitch against Sacramento at Cheney Stadium. RHP Logan Verrett is scheduled to start for Tacoma, against RHP Matt Frisbee for the visitors.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2021 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 an MiLB.TV subscription. (Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.

About the Tacoma Rainiers

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of Triple-A West. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.

Single-game tickets for all remaining 2021 Rainiers home games are now available. Questions regarding season tickets can be directed to [email protected].

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