WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Tacoma Rainiers’ hopes of a series sweep on the road against the best team in the Pacific Coast League were dashed by the Sacramento River Cats, who picked up an 11-4 win on Saturday night.
Still, Tacoma can win the series with a victory today after winning the first two games on Thursday and Friday.
Sacramento scored early and often against Tacoma starting pitcher Charlie Haeger on Saturday night.
The knuckleball pitcher allowed a two-run homer to Jai Miller in the first inning, and two-run single to Miller plus a two-run double to Matt Carson in the third.
Haeger (1-1) surrendered seven runs in four innings and left the game trailing, 7-0.
“Obviously they got to Haeger a bit,” said Tacoma manager Daren Brown. “He didn’t have good command, and some balls stayed up on him.”
The Rainiers were down 8-0 when Alex Liddi and Luis Jimenez hit back-to-back home runs off Sacramento starter Yadel Marti (4-1) to open the sixth inning.
Liddi’s homer was an opposite-field drive to right-center field for his 12th homer of the season. Liddi has homered in back-to-back games, and has five extra-base hits in the series.
The Rainiers came just a few feet short of making it a one-run game in the seventh. Trailing 8-3, Tacoma loaded the bases with two outs for Michael Saunders, who ripped a deep line drive off reliever Vinnie Chulk. But River Cats right fielder Matt Carson caught it at the fence for the final out.
“Saunders got hold of one, and it looked like it had a chance and possibly make it a one-run game, but it didn’t get out,” Brown said.
Sacramento (40-23) had 16 hits in the game – 13 from the two-through-five slots in the batting order. Wes Timmons, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Miller and Anthony Recker each had at least three hits.
Miller was a particularly tough out, going 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles, and four RBI.
Tacoma (28-35) is 4-3 on the current season-long 12-game trip. If the Rainiers can win today, it would be their first road series win of the year – and also Sacramento’s first series loss anywhere since April 14.
SHORT HOPS
Liddi has a nine-game hitting streak. … The Rainiers hit back-to-back home runs for the third time this season, and the team ranks fourth in the 16-team league with 74 homers. … Infielder Dustin Ackley was hitless for the third straight game, although he did draw two walks to raise his league-leading total to 53.
ON TAP
The Sacramento series concludes today with a 1:05 p.m. game that will be broadcast on 850-AM. Tacoma’s scheduled starting pitcher is Blake Beavan (3-2, 4.76 ERA); the River Cats are undecided.
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Rainiers.
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