Sugar Shock: Rainiers rally to tie in 9th, win in 10
Sugar Land, TX (8/6/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (56-52, 19-14) scored two in the ninth to tie Sunday’s game and three in the 10th to beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (45-63, 12-21), by a 7-5 final in the series finale. The Rainiers have won nine of 11 and three
Sugar Land, TX (8/6/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (56-52, 19-14) scored two in the ninth to tie Sunday’s game and three in the 10th to beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (45-63, 12-21), by a 7-5 final in the series finale. The Rainiers have won nine of 11 and three straight, concluding a 4-2 road trip. These clubs will meet again in Tacoma, August 29 through September 3.
The first three batters of the game reached base for Sugar Land: Rylan Bannon (walk), Jon Singleton (ground rule double) and Shay Whitcomb (2-RBI double) put the home side in front.
Tacoma tacked on a run in the second and third innings to tie it. Jake Scheiner led off with a triple to center in the second, and scored a batter later on a Zach DeLoach RBI groundout. An inning later Ryan Bliss also led off with a triple, and scored immediately on one non-stop trip around the bases thanks to an error.
Rainiers lefty Tommy Milone did not allow a run after the opening inning, and allowed only one more hit on the afternoon, lasting five complete innings (3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 91 pitches). Tacoma has now won eight consecutive games Milone has started, and is 12-3 with him on the mound this season.
Sugar Land starter Brandon Bielak struck out eight over 4.0 IP of work in an abbreviated outing (5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB); Bielak was optioned to Triple-A by the Houston Astros earlier in the week.
Still knotted at 2-2 in the sixth, the Space Cowboys went ahead when Whitcomb led off with a single and scored when the next batter, Pedro Leon, doubled to center. It was 4-2 after Cesar Salazar singled and eventually scored on a passed ball. Whitcomb and Leon each had two knocks.
Adam Engel led the way for the Rainiers with three hits, including a ninth inning solo homer to make it a one-run game, his ninth with Tacoma. Sam Haggerty drew a two out walk, stole second base, and scored when Bliss yanked a double down the left field line. Bliss’s second extra-base hit of the game tied it 4-4 in the final regulation frame.
In the 10th, the Rainiers scored their automatic runner and a whole lot more. Taylor Trammell led off with a double, and scored when Cooper Hummel tripled. Tacoma extended their lead to 7-4 with a fifth unanswered run after Hummel trotted home on a wild pitch. Trammell and Hummel joined Engel and Bliss with multiple hits for the visitors.
In the home 10th, the Space Cowboys scored their automatic runner from second on a groundout and a Leon single, but Riley O’Brien stranded runners at first and second, ending it with a pair of strikeouts. O’Brien has notched two saves in three games, and eight on the year (first saves of his career).
The Rainiers improved to 6-7 in extra innings. Brian O’Keefe (1-for-5) extended his hitting streak to 10 games, one shy of a season-high. Haggerty (0-for-3, 2 BB, R) saw his eight-game streak end. RHP Stephen Kolek pitched a scoreless ninth, his sixth straight scoreless appearance. Kolek has allowed only two runs over his last 21.0 IP (0.86 ERA), and has not allowed a run in 12 of his last 14 outings.
Tacoma will travel back on Monday, and open a six-game homestand against the league-leading Oklahoma City Dodgers with a 12:05 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday. 24 home games remain at Cheney Stadium this season, through September 24.
Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2023 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 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 by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.