Tacoma, WA - Jaycob Brugman throttled two home runs and drove in five for Tacoma as the Rainiers completed a come-from-behind victory and swept the Fresno Grizzlies in the four-game series finale at Cheney Stadium on Sunday, 9-7.After Fresno (55-70) took an early three-run lead in the top of the
Tacoma, WA - Jaycob Brugman throttled two home runs and drove in five for Tacoma as the Rainiers completed a come-from-behind victory and swept the Fresno Grizzlies in the four-game series finale at Cheney Stadium on Sunday, 9-7.
After Fresno (55-70) took an early three-run lead in the top of the second, Brugman belted his first of two bombs in the next half inning to narrow the deficit, 3-1. In the bottom of the fifth the lefty slugger knotted the score, 7-7, with an opposite-field, three-run round-tripper to score Ryan Court and Eric Filia.
Brugman finished the four-game tilt 8-for-18 with four home runs, two doubles and 13 RBI, improving his average to .500 (15-for-30) against the Grizzlies this season.
With Tacoma (56-68) down by three in the bottom of the third, John Andreoli launched a solo blast over the left field fence, his eighth of the campaign. Shortly after, Brugman scored Filia with a sacrifice groundout, putting the Rainiers within a run, 4-3.
The Grizzlies collected three more runs in the top of the fourth before Jake Fraley lifted a solo home run on a line drive off the right-center field scoreboard to narrow the deficit, 7-4. Since being reactivated from the IL on August 12, the outfielder has composed a six-game hitting streak, going 9-for 26 with two home runs and three doubles.
After Brugman knotted the score with his three-run dinger in the fifth, Ryan Court drove home Fraley in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run big fly to put the Rainiers ahead for good.
Right-hander Andrew Moore made his ninth appearance (fifth start) for Tacoma on Sunday and was charged with three runs across the first two frames, but was let off the hook for the loss with Brugman's fifth inning homer.
Nabil Crismatt took over on the mound in the third and surrendered four runs across three innings before handing the ball to Darin Gillies (1-2). The righty tossed two frames, allowing only one hit en route to his first win of the season with Tacoma, and Matt Festa slammed the door when he spun the final two innings of scoreless baseball.
Tacoma's fourth-straight victory against Fresno marks their first series sweep of the season and the third time the team has won four-in-a-row throughout the campaign.
Félix Hernández (0-1,7.71), who is on a Major League rehab assignment after a Grade 1 lat strain, will get the start at Cheney Stadium on Monday at 7:05 p.m. PDT as the Rainiers begin a three gamer against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles. Mike Curto will have full coverage on South Sound Talk 850 with audio streaming available on the Tacoma Rainiers TuneIn Radio Network.
All tickets, group outings, and suites packages for the 2019 season are available for purchase in person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online at TacomaRainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), on Instagram (@tacomarainiers), or by liking the team on Facebook.
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