Aviators fly by Rainiers in opener
Tacoma, WA (8/9/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (47-58) dropped the series opener to the Las Vegas Aviators (52-53) on Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium by a 10-4 final. The Aviators snapped a seven-game losing streak, as Tacoma’s longest homestand of 2022, 13 games, began on a sour note with their
Tacoma, WA (8/9/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (47-58) dropped the series opener to the Las Vegas Aviators (52-53) on Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium by a 10-4 final. The Aviators snapped a seven-game losing streak, as Tacoma’s longest homestand of 2022, 13 games, began on a sour note with their second straight loss after winning six of seven.
The first inning began with a flurry, as the visitors plated four runs in the opening frame. Amidst an eight-batter inning, Oakland A’s top catching prospect Shea Langeliers stroked a two-run double, and Luis Barrera (double) and David MacKinnon followed with run-scoring knocks as well.
The Rainiers responded with two of their own in the first; Taylor Trammell lasered a 402-foot homer to right field on the first pitch thrown. Curt Casali doubled and later scored on a Brian O’Keefe RBI single, trimming the Las Vegas lead to 4-2.
Still trailing by two in the fourth, Tacoma tied the game when O’Keefe (2-for-4) led off with a double into the left field gap, setting the table for a Drew Ellis one-out homer blasted to the left field deck (403 feet); his fifth with Tacoma tied it 4-4.
Las Vegas pulled away for good with another big inning in the sixth however, sending all nine batters to the plate to score four times. With four hits, a walk and a hit batter, MacKinnon’s first home run with the Aviators flew for three runs, and Sheldon Neuse tacked on an RBI single. Vegas scored the final two runs of the night in the ninth with four consecutive one-out hits. MacKinnon’s night ended 4-for-5 with four RBI.
The second game of the series will be on Wednesday at Cheney Stadium. RHP Chris Mazza is slated to open for Tacoma; RHP Collin Wiles will start for Las Vegas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2022 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every game can be viewed with a MiLB.TV subscription.
About the Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Pacific Coast League and have been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.
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.