Wall’s 3-run homer wins it to start Rainiers’ week on the road

West Sacramento, CA (8/2/22) – The Tacoma Rainiers (44-55) improved to 7-1 this season in opening games of a road trip, dispatching the Sacramento River Cats (42-58) by a 5-2 final score on Tuesday. The Rainiers have won three straight and five of seven, and sent the River Cats to their fifth consecutive loss.

Sacramento took the first lead in the second inning when Austin Dean lifted his 12th homer, a solo shot, to center field. Tacoma tied it in the third after Forrest Wall led off with an infield single, and moved to second base on a throwing error at short by Brandon Crawford (MLB rehab). Wall was at third after a fly out, and scored on a Drew Ellis RBI groundout.

With the score still even 1-1 in the seventh inning, each starting pitcher exited the game after 6.0 IP. Tacoma southpaw Justus Sheffield scattered five hits, walked two and struck out seven. River Cats RHP Tristan Beck, the reigning PCL Pitcher of The Week, also allowed five hits, but three runs and two earned after departing with a pair of runners on.

Wall walloped his fifth home run of the year to give the Rainiers the lead, a 410-foot three-run shot to straightaway center with one out in the seventh. Brian O’Keefe and Erick Mejia were aboard after a pair of singles.

With Tacoma on top 4-1, Sacramento tightened things up with Isan Diaz’s 21st homer, a solo shot to right field to begin the home seventh.

The Rainiers added cushion in the ninth with a Mason McCoy sac fly. Mejia scored the run, after leading the inning with a single and moving to third on a Kevin Padlo double to left. Left-hander Nick Ramirez protected the 5-2 lead with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts, the third straight appearance where he’s finished a save, and his third save of a Rainiers win in Tacoma’s last five games overall.

The series will continue with a 12:05 p.m. PT game on Wednesday at Sutter Health Park. RHP Konner Wade is Tacoma’s scheduled starter, opposite Sacramento RHP Wei-Chieh Huang.

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.