Summer Slam:  R season-high crowd sees first win of June

Tacoma, WA (6/3/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (27-29) overcame an early deficit and scored 10 consecutive runs to defeat the Sacramento River Cats (26-30) by an 11-7 final in front of a packed house of 7,267 fans (largest home attendance at Cheney Stadium this season). Tacoma is 6-5 with a game remaining on this 12-game homestand.

As has happened every game this series, Sacramento scored first, this time in the top of the first inning; David Villar singled home Tyler Fitzgerald (walk), giving the River Cats a 1-0 advantage. The lead would be short-lived, as Brian O’Keefe’s sacrifice fly scored the rehabbing Dylan Moore (hit by pitch) to even things up.

Sacramento pulled ahead again in the fourth. With one out, Ford Proctor singled, scoring Shane Matheny (walk) to give the River Cats a 2-1 lead. The next batter, Will Wilson, added an insurance run on a fielder’s choice, bringing in Ricardo Genoves (double). Sacramento tallied another run in the fifth, with a Villar double driving in Fitzgerald (walk) to extend the lead to three. The Rainiers would match the run with a tally of their own in the home fifth, thanks to an error that scored Moore (walk), cutting SAC’s lead to 4-2.

Tacoma completed the comeback with a crooked number in the sixth, stringing together a five-run frame. Mason McCoy singled in Cooper Hummel (walk), drawing the Rainiers within one. Jake Scheiner delivered the crushing blow three batters later, launching a grand slam over the left field wall to put the Rainiers ahead 7-4. The homer, Scheiner’s 16^th on the year (good for second in the PCL), was Tacoma’s third slam of the season, and the first by someone other than Mike Ford.

The Rainiers padded their lead in the seventh, with RBI singles from McCoy, Moore and Cade Marlowe as Tacoma’s lead ballooned to six (10-4). Moore then scored on a double play, putting the finishing touches on a four-run inning. The River Cats managed three runs in the eighth, but the visiting rally ended there.

Tacoma received contributions up and down its lineup. Zach DeLoach extended his on-base streak to 20 games, reaching via walk and two doubles. Adam Engel had the seventh game of four or more hits for the Rainiers, finishing a homer shy of the cycle. Additionally, Moore, Marlowe and Scheiner reached base three times apiece, while Hummel and McCoy each got on twice.

Right-hander Nolan Blackwood was brilliant for Tacoma out of the pen, striking out the side in the seventh after facing a bases-loaded, none-out jam. Riley O’Brien continued his dominance, striking out the side in the ninth to finish it. Rainiers RHP Marcus Walden logged 94 pitches, scattering four earned runs over 6.0 IP to keep Tacoma in the game.

For Sacramento, Tanner Andrews and Jorge Guzman provided quality relief, combining for 4.1 shutout innings, surrendering five hits and a walk while striking out four.

The Rainiers will finish their series against the River Cats, as well as their 12-game homestand, on Sunday at Cheney Stadium with a 1:35 p.m. PT first pitch. RHP Darren McCaughan will get the ball for Tacoma in hopes of splitting the weeklong set, while RHP Keaton Winn will toe the rubber for Sacramento.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2023 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 by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.