Tacoma Opens 12-Game Trip with 7-3 Win at OKC
September 7, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Oklahoma City, OK – The Tacoma Rainiers (61-69) never trailed in the series opener on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Dodgers (73-57), and improved to 9-1 in road trip-opening games this season with a 7-3 victory at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark over the PCL East Division leaders. The clubs played under their “Copa de la Diversion” alternate identities Tuesday, meaning it was “Familia de Tacoma” visiting “Cielo Azul” (Blue Sky).
Tacoma sprinted to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, by beginning the frame with four consecutive hits: Mason McCoy double, Erick Mejia and Brian O’Keefe singles, and a two-run homer to right field by Jonathan Villar, his second since joining the club. OKC immediately trimmed the lead to one in the home second; a pair of two-out walks led to a run-scoring single for Andy Burns, and a two-run single for Drew Avans, one of which scored on an error.
Still leading 4-3 in the sixth, Tacoma put together a three-run inning that began with a Jarred Kelenic automatic double, which bounced off the warning track and over the wall in right-center. Kelenic moved to third on O’Keefe’s second hit, and scored on a passed ball. After McCoy walked, Derek Hill ripped a two-run double to right, making the score 7-3.
Left-hander Justus Sheffield grinded through 5.0 IP and 89 pitches in a winning effort. He walked five but allowed only four hits; two of the three runs against him were earned (2 K). On a bullpen night for Oklahoma City, one of the seven pitchers they used was lefty Daniel Zamora, a member of the 2021 champion Rainiers who has spent the duration of this season with OKC. Zamora worked 1.1 scoreless IP (1 H, 0 BB, 2 K).
Rainiers relievers Riley O’Brien, Fernando Abad, Taylor Williams and Nick Ramirez combined for four scoreless frames, each working an inning.
Game two of the series will be on Wednesday, an early 10:05 a.m. PT/12:05 p.m. CT first pitch. RHP Konner Wade will start for Tacoma, against RHP Gavin Stone for the homestanding OKC Dodgers.
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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