ROUND ROCK, Texas – After Saturday night’s 13-run loss in Albuquerque followed by Sunday’s early wake-up call and travel to Round Rock, Tacoma manager Daren Brown was curious to see how his team would respond.
It turns out that he was quite pleased as Tacoma defeated the Round Rock Express, 12-7, in the opener of a four-game Pacific Coast League series.
The Rainiers scored three runs in each of the first two innings against Round Rock starter Brett Tomko – a nice showing, especially considering that the team arrived in town too late to take batting practice.
Round Rock would battle back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Tacoma responded with four runs in the top of the sixth to regain control.
“Jumping out to a big lead early was big after a tough loss last night, and a six o’clock wake up – just a normal PCL travel day to get here,” Brown said. “Then we let them back in to tie it, and we responded with a four-spot right away in the sixth. We had some guys who battled.”
Alex Liddi launched his 25th home run of the season in the top of the second inning, a two-run blast to center that gave Tacoma a 6-0 lead.
Rainiers starter Erasmo Ramirez looked sharp early, generating weak ground balls, but he struggled to close out innings.
Round Rock tied the game, 6-6, with a two-out, three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. Joey Butler’s two-run triple down the right-field line was the key hit.
The Rainiers regained the lead in the sixth when Johan Limonta drew a bases-loaded walk from Round Rock reliever Merkin Valdez. A Liddi groundout scored another run before Carlos Peguero had the game-breaking hit.
Peguero lined a double over the head of center fielder Craig Gentry, driving in two runs to give Tacoma a 10-6 lead.
It was one of three hits for Peguero, who is batting .391 with five home runs and 24 RBI over 21 games since being optioned to Tacoma by the Mariners.
“He’s trying to stay more under control, and there are still some swings that aren’t under control, but he is doing a better job with it,” Brown said. “He’s been doing a nice job of it in batting practice and it takes time before you see it in games, but I think we’re seeing it.”
Ramirez (2-0) earned the win despite allowing six runs in five innings.
Tacoma had solid relief from Cesar Jimenez and Scott Patterson, who combined to allow one run in four innings.
Round Rock (68-48) is in first place in the American Conference South.
SHORT HOPS
Tacoma has won 12 of the past 13 games against Round Rock, including a four-game sweep the last time the teams played at The Dell Diamond – in 2009. … This is the first season that Round Rock has been affiliated with the Texas Rangers; the team already has more wins in 2011 (68) than it did in any of the previous four entire seasons as an affiliate of the Houston Astros.
ON TAP
Tacoma sends Nate Robertson (3-5, 7.20 ERA) to the mound in the second game of the series at 5:05 p.m. (PDT) today. Round Rock is scheduled to start Eric Hurley (6-0, 3.65).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Tacoma Rainiers.
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