With a two-run seventh-inning rally and a stunning run-saving catch by Prentice Redman in the eighth, the Tacoma Rainiers gave themselves a chance to win a game in which their pitchers walked a season-high 10 hitters.

But the Rainiers saw the wheels fall off in the top of the ninth inning when they committed four errors en route to a 5-3 loss Friday night at Cheney Stadium.

The ninth inning collapse gained momentum when Colorado Springs’ Kenny Perez appeared to lead off with a routine fly-ball out to center against reliever Randy Messenger. But home plate umpire Cory Blaser ruled that Perez hit the glove of Rainiers catcher Guillermo Quiroz on the swing. Perez was awarded first base on catcher’s interference and Quiroz was charged with an error.

Things snowballed from there.

Perez was lifted for pinch-runner Chris Frey, who then attempted to steal second. Quiroz’s throw to second bounced into center field and Frey advanced to third on Quiroz’s second error of the inning.

With nobody out, big league veteran catcher Sal Fasano lifted a deep fly ball to right, which was good enough for Frey to easily tag up and score the go-ahead run for the Sky Sox (18-9).

But Tacoma couldn’t keep it at one run.

Jonathan Herrera reached on a Mike Morse throwing error on a groundball to short. Then the speedy Eric Young Jr. beat out an infield hit. And as Herrera tried to advance to third on the play, Rainiers first baseman Mike Carp fired to third to get Herrera, but two Rainiers were late trying to get to third to cover and the throw went sailing into the Sky Sox bullpen, allowing Herrera to score an insurance run.

Down 5-3, the Rainiers couldn’t muster a rally in the bottom of the ninth and dropped the opening game of a four-game series.

Messenger took the loss despite only give up one hit and no earned runs.

Tacoma pitchers made things difficult for themselves by serving up 10 walks. Starter Luis Munoz, who was rocked in his first outing, pitched better, allowing just one run over four innings with four hits. But he walked five, including a base-loaded walk in the third.

Rainiers relievers Justin Thomas and Jared Wells also combined for five walks. Thomas allowed a two-run double by Fasano in the seventh.

The Rainiers answered immediately in the bottom of the seventh. Jerry Owens, just a few games into his time with the Rainiers, singled to lead off the inning and scored all the way from first on Carp’s double to left. The Rainiers tied the game moments later when Morse singled up the middle to score Carp.

Colorado Springs left 16 runners on base.

Burke is back

Catcher Jamie Burke has cleared waivers and is back with the Mariners organization. Burke was designated for assignment on May 2. He had to wait to see if the Mariners traded him or he cleared waivers before he could return.

Burke was in uniform but not in the lineup for Friday’s game. He drove up from his hometown of Roseburg, Ore., on Friday morning after learning he was returning to the Rainiers.

On tap

The second game of the series matches right-hander Andy Baldwin (2-1, 2.60 ERA) of Tacoma against Franklin Nunez (0-2, 7.43) First pitch is set for 7 p.m.