Rainiers Drop Series Finale To Chihuahuas, 9-3

TACOMA, Wash. - The Tacoma Rainiers (35-31) dropped the series finale to the El Paso Chihuahuas (34-34),9-3, Friday night at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas.
Tacoma center fielder Leonys Martin (3x5, R, 2B, HR 2 RBI), third baseman D.J. Peterson (1x3, 2B, RBI) and second baseman Danny Muno (1x4, R) led the way for the Rainiers on offense in the losing effort.

Tacoma starter Dillon Overton (1-2) tossed four innings, allowing five hits, seven runs and four walks while tallying five strikeouts. He was credited with the loss.
The Rainiers mounted a two-out rally in the top half of the first to open the scoring. Designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach lined a single back up the middle and came around to score when Peterson launched an RBI double to the gap in right-center, giving Tacoma an early 1-0 lead.
The Chihuahuas struck back in the bottom half in a big way, tallying five runs on just four hits to take the lead. Carlos Asuaje drilled a triple to deep center field and came around to score when Jabari Blash singled to left. Diego Goris then tallied an RBI single and Tony Cruz crushed a three-run home run to deep center field to extend the El Paso lead to 5-1.
Martin managed a bloop single in the top half of the second, scoring second Muno and cutting the Rainiers deficit to 5-2.
Christian Villanueva smacked a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the second inning, increasing the Chihuahuas lead to 7-2.
Cruz launched his second home run of the game in the bottom half of the sixth, increasing the El Paso lead to 8-2.
Martin answered for the Rainiers during the top of the sixth, crushing his fifth home run of the season to deep left field and reducing the Tacoma deficit to 8-3.
The Chihuahuas added a final run in the bottom of the eighth, moving the score to 9-3.
Rainiers right hander Jonathan Aro (1-0), lefty Nick Hagadone (2-3) and righty Mark Lowe (2-4) combined to allow just one earned run in four innings of relief for Tacoma, adding four strikeouts.
The Rainiers return home Saturday night to open a four-game series with the Salt Lake Bees. Right hander Félix Hernández (1-0, 7.71) will take the mound for Tacoma and righty Luis Diaz (1-3, 7.31) will toe the rubber for Salt Lake. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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.