Tacoma powers past Las Vegas, 9-1

Tacoma, WA (8/14/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (50-61) crushed the Las Vegas Aviators (55-56) 9-1 in the final game of the series on Sunday at Cheney Stadium. After failing to hold a lead in either of Saturday’s losses, Tacoma got ahead early and did not look back. The Rainiers’ power was on display, as eight of Tacoma’s 11 hits were for extra bases and six of their nine runs were scored on homers.

The Rainiers got on the board with a trio of homers in the third and fourth. With one out in the third, catcher Josh Morgan crushed a solo shot to left, his second of the season and first since April 5. Derek Hill then walked, setting the stage for Evan White. The first baseman made it a 3-0 game by sending RHP Parker Dunshee’s first pitch of the at-bat over the wall in right field. In the fourth, following an Erick Mejia single, Drew Ellis blasted a homer to left, giving Tacoma a five-run lead.

RHP Konner Wade was masterful for the Rainiers on Sunday afternoon. The starter threw six innings, surrendering six hits while matching his season-high strikeout total with six. The only damage the Aviators did against Wade was a Cristian Pache solo shot in the fifth inning. Tacoma’s defense turned three double plays behind the righty, playing an essential role in Wade’s fourth quality start of the season. The Rainiers completed four double plays overall, three of which were started by Mejia at short.

Drew Ellis struck again in the sixth. The second baseman launched a solo homer to left, marking the sixth time that a Rainiers batter had hit two home runs in the same game this season. The longball was also the 16th consecutive run Tacoma had scored by way of a home run. Later in the frame, after a Marcus Wilson double, Hill notched a double of his own, driving in Wilson and giving the Rainiers a six-run lead. Hill then stole third and scored on a wild pitch, making it an 8-1 game.

Tacoma added on in the seventh. Jonathan Villar and Jarred Kelenic slugged back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning, increasing the Rainiers’ advantage to eight.

RHP Patrick Weigel, LHP Fernando Abad and LHP Nick Ramirez out of the pen threw shutout seventh, eighth and ninth innings to secure the 9-1 Rainiers victory. Over the final three innings, the Tacoma relievers combined to allow one baserunner and strike out three Aviators.

Tacoma plays next on Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. PT against Albuquerque at Cheney Stadium. RHP Chris Mazza takes the hill for the Rainiers and will face RHP Ashton Goudeau for the Isotopes.

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 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.