Tough stretch: Round Rock runs Rainiers to 0-2 in final 10 on Friday

Round Rock, TX (9/24/21) – The Triple-A West Champion Tacoma Rainiers (73-49) fell to 0-2 in the Triple-A Final Stretch on Friday night at Round Rock (63-58, 2-0), defeated by a 4-3 final. The Rainiers are now 17-13 in one-run games, having dropped each of the first two games in Central Texas by a lone run.

Jason Martin led the home first inning with a homer, his 10th in Triple-A this season for a 1-0 Express lead, one that was short-lived. The Rainiers loaded the bases in the second, and Marcus Wilson tied the score with a sac fly.

Round Rock lefty Jake Latz worked five innings, surrendering only five hits and a walk. The run against Latz was earned, and he struck out six.

In the sixth, Jose Marmolejos muscled his 28th home run of the season to straightaway center for a 2-1 Tacoma advantage; he’s hit 24 with the Rainiers and four more with the Mariners.

The Express quickly re-tied the game in the home sixth with two base hits and a John Hicks RBI groundout. It was 3-2 Round Rock when Yohel Pozo doubled to the right field gap.

Weber threw 97 pitches and 74 strikes over seven innings, scattering seven hits and striking out seven. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned), but did not walk a batter; Weber has walked only two in nine starts and 54.1 IP with Tacoma this season. The Rainiers slipped to 7-2 with him on the mound; the unearned run made it his sixth quality start (minimum 6.0 IP, 3 or fewer ER).

Leading 4-2 in the ninth, Express RHP Buck Farmer gave up a leadoff hit to Jose Godoy (3-for-4), and with two out Godoy scored from second base (advanced on defensive indifference) on a Luis Liberato run-scoring single. But alas, it was the game’s final tally. Donovan Walton went 2-for-5 for the Rainiers, and has now reached base in 37 of 39 games.

Game nine of this 11-game Texas road trip, and game three of the Triple-A Final Stretch will be on Saturday at Round Rock, another 5:05 PT first pitch. RHP Darren McCaughan (Tacoma) and RHP Kohei Arihara (Round Rock) are the scheduled starting pitchers.

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.