Rainiers Topple Tucson, 6-4

TUCSON, Ariz. - Taijuan Walker delivered six solid innings as the Tacoma Rainiers topped the Tucson Padres 6-4 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday night.

The right-hander Walker limited the Padres to one run on six hits over six innings on the way to improving to 5-3 with Tacoma this season. He struck out nine and walked two in his 11th start as a member of the Rainiers rotation.

Tacoma pulled ahead 3-0 in the top of the third inning. Jesus Sucre hit an RBI double and Carlos Triunfel lined an RBI single to give the Rainiers a 2-0 edge. Outfielder Abraham Almonte added a third run with a triple that plated Triunfel.

Stefen Romero was responsible for tallying the Rainiers other three runs. The outfielder hit a run-scoring single in the fifth, and belted a two-run home run in the seventh inning - his eighth this season.

Right-handed reliever Tom Wilhelmsen allowed three runs on four hits over one inning of work in the seventh. Jonathan Arias and Logan Bawcom combined to toss two shutout frames in the eighth and ninth. Bawcom earned his 20th save of the season after turning a perfect inning in the ninth.

The Rainiers (71-65) return to Cheney Stadium tomorrow, August 26th to host the club's final homestand of the season. Right-hander Blake Beavan (4-6, 5.95) is slated to start for Tacoma when the team welcomes Salt Lake for a four-game series at 7 p.m. Right-hander Tommy Hansen (0-1, 3.27) will start for the Bees.

Every Rainiers game throughout the 2013 season can be heard live on South Sound Sports 850-AM and is available for online streaming at www.tacomarainiers.com.

To purchase season tickets, group packages or party decks for the 2013 season, call (253) 752-7707 or email [email protected]. Up-to-date news and notes throughout the season can be found at www.tacomarainiers.com and by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.