Rainiers take series from Las Vegas after late home run derby
Tacoma, WA (5/28/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (25-26) took the series against the Las Vegas Aviators (23-28) 4-2 after their 10-8 victory at Cheney Stadium on Sunday. The Rainiers, who trailed 8-7 in the eighth inning, called game as Mason McCoy sent a ball 366 feet over the left wall
Tacoma, WA (5/28/23) – The Tacoma Rainiers (25-26) took the series against the Las Vegas Aviators (23-28) 4-2 after their 10-8 victory at Cheney Stadium on Sunday. The Rainiers, who trailed 8-7 in the eighth inning, called game as Mason McCoy sent a ball 366 feet over the left wall for a game-winning three-run round-tripper.
Tacoma extended its first-frame luck for the fourth straight game, going ahead 2-1 with two runs off four hits from Kean Wong, Cooper Hummel (double), Mike Ford (H, RBI) and Pedro Severino (double, RBI). Jack Larsen was the fifth consecutive Rainier to reach safely in the first, earning his 10th walk of the series. Larsen (1-for-1, 4 BB) worked his 13th free pass since Tuesday in the home eighth, contributing to the team’s Triple-A best 298 walks this season.
Las Vegas responded in the top of the third, evening the score 2-2 with back-to-back doubles from Max Schuemann and Jonah Bride. The one-two punch struck again in the fifth inning after Bride launched a ball 375 feet into left field, scoring Schuemann (single) for a go-ahead 4-2 lead.
Cesar Hernandez (BB), Dylan Moore (BB) and Wong loaded the bases, bringing the fiery Mike Ford to the plate with one away in the sixth. Ford, now 11-for-15 with the bases loaded, drilled a ball into center field for a two-run single; he has driven in 25 runners (55 RBI total) with the bases full.
The Aviators’ Tyler Soderstrom tied the game 7-7 in the seventh with an RBI double, scoring Tyler Wade (BB), Schuemann, and Bride (4-for-4, 5 RBI). Pinch hitter Jordan Diaz put Vegas back on top 8-7 with a homer in the eighth.
A base hit by Ford and a walk by Larsen ignited a roar amongst the crowd of 6,152 as McCoy entered the box in the home eighth. McCoy sent the high 2-2 offering soaring out to left, tying the game, giving Tacoma the lead and providing an insurance run, with one big swing.
Sunday’s starting pitching matchup was a rematch of Tuesday’s opener, RHP Marcus Walden (TAC) and RHP Colton Eastman (LV); Walden did not walk a batter and struck out five over 5.0 solid IP of work, Eastman went 5.0 IP as well (2 ER).
RHP Ryder Ryan (1.0 IP, 1 K) and LHP Blake Weiman (1.0 IP, 3 K) put up scoreless innings for Tacoma. RHP Matt Festa entered in the ninth and secured his 10th save of the season (10/10 SVO, leads PCL).
The Rainiers are halfway through their 12-game homestand, earning an off day on Monday. They will return to Cheney Stadium on Tuesday for a 6:05 p.m. PT series opener against the Sacramento River Cats. RHP Darren McCaughan (2-2) is scheduled to pitch for Tacoma, and RHP Keaton Winn is slated for Sacramento.
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.