Rainiers Rope Four Homers, Roll Past River Cats
September 3, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Tacoma, WA -The Tacoma Rainiers (60-68) hit four home runs in the first two innings on Saturday at Cheney Stadium, and with a 10-5 win cruised to a 3-2 series lead over the Sacramento River Cats (57-71) with a game to go in this weeklong series. Tacoma is 14-9 against Sacramento this season, heading into the final meeting of 2022 between the clubs on Sunday afternoon.
The Rainiers fell one short of their season-high in homers, with the early-inning power display. Kyle Lewis (two-run, right-center) and Brian O’Keefe (solo, left) each went yard in the first. The home second inning began with a Drew Ellis double to right field, and he scored on a Derek Hill triple to center to make the score 4-0. Then Evan White (two-run, right-center) and Jarred Kelenic (two-run, right) continued the power parade, and made it 8-0.
Jason Krizan’s three-run homer to right field got Sacramento on the board in the third. In the fifth, Rainiers shortstop Mason McCoy scored on a balk after walking and stealing second base; he advanced to both third and home on a balk.
Tacoma left-hander Austin Warner gave his club 6.2 IP and grinded to a winning decision: 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. The lead was trimmed to 9-5 in seventh on a pair of RBI singles courtesy of River Cats Ford Proctor and Dixon Machado.
Lewis grabbed his second hit and third RBI with a single in the eighth, taking Tacoma to double figures on the evening’s final scoring play. Lefty Brennan Bernardino worked 1.2 scoreless IP for his first career Triple-A save: 1 H, 2 K.
The series finale is ticketed for a 1:35 p.m. PT first pitch on Sunday at Cheney Stadium. RHP Darren McCaughan is scheduled to make his club-high 25th start for the Rainiers, against River Cats RHP Sean Hjelle.
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.
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