The Portland Beavers are no Reno Aces – and for that, the Tacoma Rainiers are thankful.
After getting swept in a four-game series by Reno for the second time in a span of 12 games, the Rainiers opened a brief, three-game homestand with a clean, well-played 4-1 victory over the Portland Beavers on Wednesday.
It was a breath of fresh air for a Tacoma club that had lost 11 of its past 13 games.
“It was important to come back home and get it turned around a little bit,” Tacoma manager Daren Brown said.
Tacoma starting pitcher Doug Fister set the tone, commanding the strike zone and keeping the Beavers off the basepaths.
Fister (4-1) allowed a run when a two-out balk in the first inning moved Mike Baxter to second base, and Valentino Pasucci followed with a ground-ball single to left field, scoring Baxter.
That was all the stingy Fister allowed over seven innings.
In fact, he was only in trouble one other inning – the fifth, when Portland loaded the bases with one out. Craig Stansberry hit a line drive up the middle, but Tacoma second baseman Callix Crabbe made a diving catch and then doubled the runner off second base, ending the inning.
“I’ve gotta do something,” Crabbe said. “At the plate I haven’t done anything. It’s important that I lock it in on defense even more.”
Brown couldn’t agree more.
“That was the play of the game,” Brown said. “If that ball gets through they score two runs, and it’s a different game.”
Rehabilitating Seattle Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes). Kelly has been on the Mariners’ disabled list since May 6 with a strained left oblique.
And closer Randy Messenger recovered from a rocky outing in his hometown of Reno on Monday to work a scoreless ninth, earning his 14th save.
The Rainiers took the lead with a two-run rally in the third inning, and they got a little help from the windy conditions.
With Prentice Redman at first base and one out, Jeff Clement singled to right field, sending Redman to third.
Chris Shelton followed with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Redman and giving Tacoma a 2-1 lead.
Bryan LaHair was next, lifting a routine pop fly to shallow left-center field. But the wind pushed the ball in towards the infield and the ball dropped in for a single that scored Clement and made it 3-1.
Tacoma All-Stars
Shelton and Bryan LaHair were among the 28 players named to the PCL All-Star team on Wednesday.
Shelton was voted the starting designated hitter by league managers, media members, and fans. He entered Wednesday batting .320 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI.
LaHair was selected as a reserve after hitting .283 with 13 home runs and 46 RBI.
The Triple-A All-Star game is July 15 at Portland’s PGE Park, and will be televised on ESPN2.
Burke back on roster
Tacoma added catcher Jamie Burke, who cleared waivers, and transferred Guillermo Quiroz to Class-AA West Tennessee.
On tap
Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-3, 6.67 ERA) returns from a five-game suspension to face Portland’s Will Inman (0-3, 7.27) tonight at 7.
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Tacoma Rainiers
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