Rainiers Finish First Half With 8-6 Win Over 'Topes

Tacoma goes into All-Star Break a season-best six games over .500 mark

Rainiers infielder Daniel Vogelbach. (Jeff Halstead)

By Tacoma Rainiers Communications

July 8, 2018

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Tacoma Rainiers (48-42) climbed to a season-high mark of six games over .500 with an 8-6 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes (44-45) on Sunday night at Isotopes Park.Tacoma's offense was led by center fielder Ian Miller (2x4, 3 R, RBI, BB) and designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Tacoma Rainiers (48-42) climbed to a season-high mark of six games over .500 with an 8-6 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes (44-45) on Sunday night at Isotopes Park.
Tacoma's offense was led by center fielder Ian Miller (2x4, 3 R, RBI, BB) and designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (2x4, R, HR, 3 RBI), who combined to drive in half of the Rainiers runs. Second baseman Gordon Beckham (1x1, BB), right fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (0x3, 2 BB), catcher Garrett Kennedy (1x4, 2 R, 2B, BB), and left fielder Jansiel Rivera (1x3, R, BB) all reached base multiple times.

Rainiers starting pitcher Christian Bergman worked five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. He issued one walk and struck out two on 81 pitches (52 strikes). Bergman earned the win and moved to 6-6 on the year with Tacoma.
Tacoma's bullpen continued their run of stellar pitching, combining to allow just one run on two hits over the final four innings. Tucker Healy (0.1 IP), Daniel Schlereth (0.1 IP), Mike Morin (1.1 IP), Tyler Higgins (1.0 IP), Ryan Cook (0.0 IP, two batters faced), and Ryan Garton (1.0 IP) all contributed. Garton worked a scoreless ninth and earned his third save of the season.
The Rainiers, along with the rest of Triple-A baseball, will take the next three days off for the All-Star Break. Tacoma's representative in the 2018 Triple-A All-Star Game - set for Wednesday, July 11 in Columbus, Ohio - will be right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong. The showcase game will be national televised on MLB Network.
Tacoma will be back in action at Cheney Stadium on Thursday, July 12 against the Fresno Grizzlies - first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PT.
All tickets, group outings, and suites packages for the 2018 season are available for purchase in person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online at TacomaRainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.