Late Lead Slips Away in First Loss of Series

TACOMA, WA – The Tacoma Rainiers (10-4) allowed five unanswered runs, dropping their first game of the series to the Reno Aces (6-7) by a score of 8-7, Saturday at Cheney Stadium.

Cade Marlowe put Tacoma ahead early in the first inning with a solo home run. They padded their lead to 3-0 in the third on a solo home run from Leo Rivas and an RBI double by Ryan Bliss.

Reno tied the game with one swing of the bat in the fourth inning, on a three-run shot from Andres Chaparro. It wasn’t tied long, as the Rainiers put up a four-spot in their half of the inning highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Nick Solak and Jonatan Clase.

The Aces started to chip away at the 7-3 deficit with a run in each the sixth and seventh innings on a home run from Tristin English and an RBI single from Adrian Del Castillo. Tacoma still held a two-run lead until the eighth, when Reno put up a three-spot to take their first lead of the game.

They scored on a sacrifice fly from Kolten Wong and a two-run single from Jancarlos Cintron, capping off five straight unanswered runs. Up 8-7 in the ninth inning, Reno brought in their hard-throwing reliever, Justin Martinez, who struck out the side to earn his third save of the year.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• Tonight was Tacoma’s first loss of the season when leading after seven innings. They are now 8-1 when leading after seven frames.
• Ty Buttrey got tagged with the loss and blown save, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one in his lone inning of work.
• Tonight was the first loss of the year for the Rainiers when Michael Papierski was the team’s starting catcher. They were previously 7-0.

Tacoma and Reno will play the sixth and final game of the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch from Cheney Stadium scheduled for 1:35 pm. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.milb.com/tacoma.