Late Runs Propel Tacoma to Victory

LAS VEGAS, NV – The Tacoma Rainiers (13-4) scored four late, unanswered runs to beat the Las Vegas Aviators (5-11), Wednesday at Las Vegas Ballpark.

After being shutout in last night’s game, Las Vegas got on the board in the first inning on an RBI double from Tyler Soderstrom. Michael Chavis stayed hot and tied the game with an RBI single in the second.

Blake Hunt gave the Rainiers the lead with an RBI double of his own, making it 2-1. The lead didn’t last long, as Las Vegas got the two runs back on a double from Max Muncy, making it 3-2.

Tacoma tied the game on a groundout from Ryan Bliss in the fourth and took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on an RBI single from Sam Haggerty. Once again, the lead didn’t last, as Drew Lugbauer used a solo home run to knot the game at four runs apiece.

Samad Taylor put the Rainiers in the lead for good with an RBI single in the seventh and padded the lead with a two-run single in the eighth. An eighth run came across the plate for Tacoma on a throwing error by Las Vegas to make it 8-4.

Kirby Snead and Carlos Vargas combined to deliver three scoreless innings, giving Tacoma their second win of the series and third straight victory overall.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• Sam Haggerty went a perfect 4-for-4 at the top of the order for Tacoma. He scored a run, drove in a run and took a walk. Haggerty’s four hits raised his average with the Rainiers to .400.
• Kirby Snead kept his ERA at 0.00, delivering two perfect innings tonight. The lefty struck out three batters in his first appearance against his former team.
• Tacoma’s offense stayed hot, scoring eight runs on 16 hits tonight. Over their last three games, they have now scored 35 runs on 46 hits.

Tacoma and Las Vegas will play game three of their six-game series tomorrow night, with first pitch from Las Vegas Ballpark scheduled for 7:05 pm. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.milb.com/tacoma.