Hager’s Town: Jake’s two homers power Rainiers to night cap win

Tacoma, WA (7/15/21) – To make up a rainout from June 6, the Tacoma Rainiers (32-28) and Salt Lake Bees (30-31) played a pair of seven-inning games on Thursday evening, kicking off a stretch of 14 contests at Cheney Stadium for the Rainiers over 13 days. Thanks to a late-night power display by the Tacoma shortstop, the clubs settled for a doubleheader split.

GAME 1

Jose Marmolejos lasered his club-leading 13th homer of the season over the right field wall with two out and nobody on in the second inning, his fourth home run since Sunday at Sugar Land.

Jose Godoy then blasted his fourth homer, solo as well, to right-center to lead off the fourth.

In his first career Triple-A start, Tacoma right-hander Penn Murfee was superb over four scoreless innings, limiting the Bees to one hit, two walks and a hit batter. Murfee struck out three in the no-decision.

Still leading 2-0 in the fifth however, the Rainiers surrendered three runs, the bulk of which came on a Jo Adell two-run triple off the wall in centerfield. The Angels top prospect leads the league in both RBI (53) and home runs (18), and is currently on a 12-game hitting streak.

Jaime Barria logged a complete game for Salt Lake, allowing only three hits in seven innings, with a walk and three strikeouts to preserve the 3-2 final himself.

GAME 2

The Bees jumped out to a 1-0 lead, a bullpen affair for each side, by leading off the fourth inning with three consecutive base hits. Matt Thaiss’s double scored on Anthony Bemboom’s RBI single. In the home half however, Jake Hager blasted a solo shot to left field, his second jack with Tacoma to even the score 1-1. It was 2-1 Rainiers moments later, when Dillon Thomas doubled, and Jantzen Witte singled (RBI).

Remaining ahead 2-1 in the sixth, Hager smashed his second homer of the game to lead off the inning, and Tacoma’s cushion was two runs after the insurance.

Wyatt Mills was all business in the visiting seventh for Tacoma, retiring the side in order with a pop-out and a pair of strikeouts for the save, his second of the season in a 3-1 victory.

The Rainiers will next be in action Friday night against Salt Lake, game three of this 14-game homestand at Cheney Stadium. Fresh off league Pitcher of The Week honors, RHP Darren McCaughan will start for Tacoma, opposite Bees’ LHP Thomas Pannone.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2021 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 an MiLB.TV subscription. (Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.

About the Tacoma Rainiers

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of Triple-A West. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.

Single-game tickets for all remaining 2021 Rainiers home games are now available. Questions regarding season tickets can be directed to [email protected].

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.