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Huge Rainiers rally falls a run short in series opener vs. SAC

Tacoma roars back from down 8-0 after 3rd, loses 8-7, LHP Williams Jerez: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R
July 23, 2021

Tacoma, WA (7/22/21) – An offensive explosion early propelled the Sacramento River Cats (28-38) to victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (35-31), taking the first game of the series at Cheney Stadium on Thursday. Tacoma whittled an 8-0 deficit to 8-7 going to the ninth, before Sacramento survived. Sacramento took a

Tacoma, WA (7/22/21) – An offensive explosion early propelled the Sacramento River Cats (28-38) to victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (35-31), taking the first game of the series at Cheney Stadium on Thursday. Tacoma whittled an 8-0 deficit to 8-7 going to the ninth, before Sacramento survived.

Sacramento took a 2-0 lead on a Joey Bart two-run double to drive in Tommy La Stella (MLB rehab, single) and Mauricio Dubon (walk) in the first. Two batters later, Bart came around to score on a Jason Krizan sacrifice fly to the wall in right, giving the River Cats a three-run advantage.

The River Cats kept pouring it on in the second. Braden Bishop’s RBI double, Bart’s bases-loaded walk, and Krizan’s second sac fly pushed across three more for Sacramento, making it 6-0. Dubon continued Sacramento’s assault in the third with a two-run homer, extending the lead to eight.

Dillion Thomas (3-for-5) gave Tacoma their first run with a leadoff home run in the fourth inning, his eighth of the year. An inning later, Alen Hanson tripled home Jantzen Witte (single), making the score 8-2.

The Rainiers kept chipping away in the sixth. Jose Marmolejos doubled to right to score Thomas (single) and Jose Godoy followed suit with an RBI single to chase in Brian O’Keefe (walk). A few batters later, Luis Liberato walked with the bases loaded to bring the Rainiers within striking distance at 8-5. In the eighth, Thomas knocked in two more on a single to left, getting Tacoma as close as they would come.

The bullpen kept the Rainiers in it all night; the combination of Williams Jerez, Ryan Dull and Justin Grimm shutout the River Cats for 5.1 innings, allowing only six baserunners and striking out just as many.

The Rainiers play the River Cats again on Friday for game two of the series 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.