Change was everywhere at Cheney Stadium on Saturday night.
The Tacoma Rainiers wore out-of-the-box new purple jerseys and white hats as part of a promotion. Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima played the first four innings in a rehabilitation start.
But one aspect stayed the same. For the fourth game in a row, the Rainiers lost. Reno slipped past Tacoma, 2-1, beating the Rainiers for the third consecutive game.
“We can’t get them all on the same page,” Tacoma manager Daren Brown said. “We had the pitching tonight, but couldn’t take advantage of our opportunities to score some runs.”
Starter Doug Fister threw five strong innings for the Rainiers (34-35), who donned the new duds to raise money for the University of Washington Tacoma’s student scholarship fund. He allowed two earned runs and five hits, while striking out four. Relievers Denny Stark and Justin Thomas combined to throw four scoreless innings and each gave up only one hit.
Brown said Stark, who lowered his earned run average to 3.94, had his best outing since being demoted to Tacoma on June 10. Stark struck out four and walked one in 22/3 innings.
“That’s as good as he’s pitched since he’s been here,” Brown said. “He was throwing well.”
Reno starter Cesar Valdez (6-4) got the win after scattering six hits and one earned run in six innings.
Ruben Gotay gave the Aces a 1-0 lead in the third when he homered to right field. Reno (34-36) added a run in the fifth when Trent Oeltjen scored on Alex Romero’s double off Fister.
Tacoma answered in the bottom half of the inning. Mike Morse, who went 2-for-4 and has a hit in nine of his last 10 games, led off with a single and scored when Bryan LaHair hit a two-out triple. Catcher Adam Moore stranded LaHair at third when he struck out. The Rainiers stranded 10 runners, including five in scoring position.
Johjima, playing for the first time since being placed on the disabled list on May 26 because of a broken left big toe, started at catcher and had two at-bats. In his first, he singled to left field on an 0-2 pitch and advanced to third on Brad Nelson’s center field single with one out. He flew out to right field in the fourth inning.
Johjima, who said his toe “felt good,” expected to be at Cheney Stadium today for the final game of the Rainiers’ four-game series against Reno.
“As far as I know, I will be playing here (today),” he said.
Brown said Johjima would likely be in the lineup as designated hitter.
Short hops
Reno manager Brett Butler sat out the game on suspension for making contact with the home plate umpire in Wednesday’s game against Las Vegas. Aces hitting coach Rick Burleson took over managerial duties. … The Rainiers auctioned off their purple jerseys for $2,800. Morse’s jersey brought the highest bid at $450. … Former Curtis High standout and Huskies basketball guard Isaiah Thomas threw out the first pitch.
On tap
Right-hander Andy Baldwin (5-3, 4.54 ERA) will start for the Rainiers, while right-hander Tony Barnette (5-6, 6.47) from Federal Way starts for Reno. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 850-AM.
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
