“La Familia” falls to Abejas de Salt Lake on Cinco de Mayo

Salt Lake City, UT (5/5/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (8-19) dropped to 3-6 on this season-long 12-game road trip, with an 8-1 setback against the Salt Lake Bees (14-13) on Thursday night. The Rainiers have dropped two in a row after taking the series opener. The clubs played under their Copa de la Diversion alter egos to mark Cinco de Mayo.

Salt Lake broke a scoreless tie with a five-run sixth inning, featuring a Monte Harrison two-run single, an Austin Romine RBI double off the wall in centerfield, and an RBI single from 2021 Rainier Dillon Thomas.

Tacoma broke up the shutout in the eighth, after Zach Green, who has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, led off with a single. He moved to second base on a groundout and scored on a one-out RBI knock to left field by Mason McCoy.

A four-hit Bees eighth was punctuated by a Kean Wong two-RBI single to right, which made the score 7-1. The game’s final run scored on a wild pitch.

Salt Lake starter Cesar Valdez logged a complete game, needing 97 pitches (69 strikes) to do so. He scattered eight hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out eight. The run he allowed was earned. It was already the second complete game of the season for the veteran right-hander.

In his second appearance of this series and his first start with the club, Tacoma’s Konner Wade worked three scoreless innings, and did not allow a run on three hits (1 K).

The series will continue into the weekend at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City. Seattle Mariners 40-man roster LHP Justus Sheffield will pitch for Tacoma for the first time this season on Friday. The Bees’ starter is TBD.

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.