Rainiers romp over Las Vegas 9-2 in series-opener

Tacoma, WA (8/12/21) – The Tacoma Rainiers (49-36) extended their high-water mark this season once again, improving to 13 games over .500 following a 9-2 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators (43-42) on Thursday. Tacoma has won 12 of 15, pulling within a half game of Reno for first place in the West Division, and for the best record in the league.

The Rainiers continued their trend of scoring early; Jose Marmolejos drove in his 58th run with a single to centerfield in the first inning, scoring Jantzen Witte from second base after a single and a wild pitch. Witte made it 2-0 in the third on a sac fly to right; Jack Reinheimer scored after a base hit, stolen base and a Donovan Walton single. Walton scored moments later on the second Marmolejos RBI of the night, a double into the left field corner.

Leading 3-0 in the fourth, Tacoma pounded out four more hits and scored three more times; Reinheimer (single), Walton (single) and Witte (double) drove in the runs. The Rainiers kept pouring it on the fifth, a Dillon Thomas two-run single cleared the bases, extending the lead to 8-0.

Rainiers starter Ryan Weber retired the first eight batters of the game, meaning he set down 25 in a row dating to his most recent start on August 5 at Reno. Weber mowed down the final 17 he faced in that game, a 13-0 Tacoma win. On Thursday, the right-hander went seven shutout innings without a walk, allowing only five hits and striking out five. The Rainiers are 3-0 when he starts.

Sam Travis capped Tacoma’s scoring with a mammoth solo homer to left field in the seventh inning. Zack Weiss, in his first action with the club since returning from the Olympics (Israel), pitched a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout in his return to the Rainiers.

Tacoma will next be in action on Friday, a 7:05 PT first pitch against Las Vegas at Cheney Stadium. 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.