Kyle Lewis drives in five (HR, double) in 8-3 Rainiers win over River Cats
West Sacramento, CA (5/17/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (12-25) homered with men on base in consecutive innings on Tuesday night, and were victorious in their road trip opener over the Sacramento River Cats (18-19), by an 8-3 final score. In the seventh game of his rehab assignment, Seattle Mariners outfielder
West Sacramento, CA (5/17/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (12-25) homered with men on base in consecutive innings on Tuesday night, and were victorious in their road trip opener over the Sacramento River Cats (18-19), by an 8-3 final score. In the seventh game of his rehab assignment, Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis (DH) homered, doubled, and drove in five runs.
In the bottom of the first inning, the River Cats struck first with former Rainier Donovan Walton scoring Heliot Ramos (HBP) on an RBI double, in his first at-bat with Sacramento.
Tacoma responded immediately in the following half inning, getting on the scoreboard with a RBI fielder’s choice, put in play by Erick Mejia scoring Brian O’Keefe (double).
Sacramento went back on top in the bottom of the fourth, notching their second run off of Tacoma starter Justus Sheffield. A sacrifice fly by Ricardo Genoves scored Austin Dean (single), making it a 2-1 ballgame.
In the top of the fifth, Lewis smashed a 405-foot three-run homer, his third round-tripper during his rehab stint with the Rainiers. Lewis’s home run gave the Rainiers a 4-2 lead. It was much of the same in the sixth; a 105 mph single for Zach Green started the inning and a 113 mph two-run homer by Mejia that traveled 422 feet extended the Rainiers lead to 6-2. Lewis continued to drive in runs for Tacoma; with two out in the same inning (sixth) he collected his second extra-base hit of the night, scoring two on a double. His five RBI tied a club season-high; Marcus Wilson drove in five runs on Friday, with two homers against Reno.
Lewis improved his average during this rehab assignment to .357 (10-for-28), and has driven in 11 runs for Tacoma.
The Rainiers lefty Sheffield allowed only two hits, two walks and two earned runs over 4.0 IP (4 K). Patrick Weigel followed and worked 2.0 IP, striking out four and allowing just one hit, which was a solo home run by former Rainier Kevin Padlo (4). Nick Ramirez threw 1.2 IP and escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh, before working a 1-2-3 eighth.
Game two of this series will be at 12:05 p.m. PT on Wednesday afternoon, with RHP Darren McCaughan on the mound for the Rainiers. RHP Raynel Espinal will start for the River Cats.
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 home 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.