TUCSON, Ariz. – The Tacoma Rainiers continued their trend of putting together big innings, this time scoring six runs in the top of the first on the way to a 16-8 victory over the Tucson Padres on Sunday night.
The Rainiers had a nine-run inning on Friday night, and a seven-run inning on Saturday. They wasted no time putting together Sunday’s big inning.
Tucson starter Jon Leicester entered the game ranked sixth in the Pacific Coast League with a 3.45 earned-run average, but he quickly fell out of the rankings – far out of the rankings, as it turned out.
Dustin Ackley opened the game with a sharp single off Leicester’s glove, and Matt Mangini grounded a first-pitch single into right field.
Alex Liddi then launched a towering home run to center field, clearing the 35-foot batter’s eye for his 10th home run of the season, giving Tacoma a 3-0 lead three batters into the game.
Mike Carp lined a single to center, extending his hitting streak to 21 consecutive games – the longest by any PCL player this year.
Matt Tuiasosopo connected for the first of his three singles, and then Johan Limonta grounded out to score Carp and make it 4-0.
Michael Saunders was next, and he lined a two-run homer into the bullpen beyond the right field fence to give Tacoma a 6-0 lead – and there was only one out in the top of the first inning.
“I’ll take six runs in the first inning every night,” said Tacoma manager Daren Brown. “We’ve got some guys swinging the bat pretty well. Up and down the lineup we’ve got guys coming up big in key situations.”
Leicester would go on to allow 11 runs – all earned – in three innings of work. His ERA climbed nearly two runs to 5.22. Every Rainiers starter had at least one hit, and eight different players drove in runs.
Ackley hit a long home run off left-handed reliever Colt Hynes in the sixth inning.
His eighth home run of the year landed at the top of the berm in right-center field, about 420 feet from home plate. Mangini finished the game 4-for-5 with four singles and two RBI. It was his second game since returning from three weeks on the disabled list.
Carp hit his 17th home run of the season in the ninth inning, although he hit it off Tucson’s designated blowout pitcher, outfielder Bobby Kielty. Even though it came off a position player, it counts just the same, and Carp is now tied with Reno’s Wily Mo Peña for the league lead.
Charlie Haeger (1-0) earned his first Rainiers win, pitching six innings and allowing six runs. Chaz Roe worked the final three innings and was credited with his first professional save. On Tap
The Rainiers and Padres play again today at 7 p.m. Tacoma starts right-hander Blake Beavan (2-2, 4.87) against Tucson right-hander Matt Buschmann (2-2, 6.00).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Tacoma Rainiers.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.