Lobaton Belts Two Three-Run Bombs, Rainiers Split Series with Las Vegas

Tacoma, WA - Jose Lobaton belted two three-run home runs on Thursday night as the Tacoma Rainiers split their four-game series with the Las Vegas Aviators in the series finale at Cheney Stadium, 9-3.
Lobaton capped a five-run rally for the Rainiers (48-50) in the third inning by crushing a low line drive over the right field wall to extend Tacoma's lead, 5-0. After Las Vegas (56-42) narrowed the deficit with a three-run fifth, Lobaton launched his second three-run bomb in the home half of the seventh to further the lead, 9-3.
The catcher's multi-home run game is the fourth of his pro career, and his first since Aug. 25, 2008 at Double-A Corpus Christi while playing with San Antonio. Lobaton has 12 in the 2019 campaign, tied with Kristopher Negrón for the most in a Rainiers uniform this season.

Southpaw Anthony Misiewicz (5-5) made the start for the Rainiers on Thursday night and allowed three runs across five innings, collecting six strikeouts before Brandon Brennan took over on the mound. The right-hander, who had his rehab assignment transferred from the AZL Mariners on Monday, tossed a scoreless sixth inning in his second appearance with the Rainiers.
Infielder Tim Lopes drove in the first run of the game when he doubled home John Andreoli for the start of Tacoma's third-inning rally. Lopes has hits in 14 of his last 16 games, hitting at a .344 clip over that span (22-for-64).
Ryan Court continued his hot streak when he lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jake Fraley, advancing Tacoma's (48-50) lead to two before the first of Lobaton's two round-trippers.
An inning later, Andreoli extended Tacoma's lead, 6-0, when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Kelby Tomlinson.
Right-hander Gerson Bautista tossed two perfect innings, collecting four strikeouts and David McKay closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Rainiers will start a three-game series on Friday as they host the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Tacoma southpaw Sean Nolin (3-0, 2.45) will take the mound for a 7:05 p.m. PDT start at Cheney Stadium, followed by Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Pepsi. Mike Curto will have full coverage of 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 and WeRTacoma.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), Instagram (tacomarainiers) or liking the team on Facebook.
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