Big 7th sends Vegas to victory on Friday

Tacoma, WA (8/12/22) –The Tacoma Rainiers (49-59) saw their weeklong series with the Las Vegas Aviators (53-55) evened at two games apiece on Friday night at Cheney Stadium, on the short end of a 5-4 final score. Tacoma has still won eight of 12 despite the setback. All Vegas runs were scored in the seventh inning.

Mason McCoy led off the third inning with a triple to right field, and scored a batter later when Jarred Kelenic blooped a single into center for a 1-0 Rainiers advantage. Kelenic’s night ended with Tacoma’s only two-hit effort.

Rainiers lefty Austin Warner protected that lead through 5.0 IP and 73 pitches. He scattered six hits and a walk, striking out five. Aviators left-hander Ken Waldichuk matched Warner exactly with five innings of his own and the same number of pitches (6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). Waldichuk was making his second start with the Oakland A’s organization after being acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline, in the deal for starting pitcher Frankie Montas.

Las Vegas took the lead with a nine-batter, five-run top of the seventh. A’s top catching prospect Shea Langeliers had an RBI single; Dermis Garcia hit his ninth home run with Vegas, a three-run shot.

The Rainiers would roar back in the home seventh however, trimming the deficit to 5-4 on Abraham Toro’s first homer with Tacoma. The three-run shot came after Forrest Wall (walk) and Josh Morgan (single) began the frame by reaching base.

Toro’s towering shot would be as close as Tacoma would come however, as the remainder of the game continued scoreless. RHP Norge Ruiz fired the final 1.2 IP scoreless for the Aviators and didn’t allow a hit (1 BB, 2 K) in converting the save, his second.

The clubs will play a single-admission doubleheader on Saturday, making up a rainout at Cheney Stadium from May 28. First pitch of game one will commence at 5:05 p.m. PT, with RHP Adrian Martinez on the mound for Las Vegas. Seattle Mariners 40-man roster player LHP Justus Sheffield will pitch the opener for Tacoma.

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.