Since Greg Halman was designated back to Triple-A on Aug. 4 after 30 games with the Seattle Mariners, the left fielder has been on a hot-hitting stretch for the Tacoma Rainiers and making another case for a major-league call-up in September.
In the past six games, Halman has put together five multi-hit games, including Saturday’s 3-for-4 performance in Tacoma’s 8-3 victory over the Iowa Cubs.
Halman had two singles and a double, extending his hitting streak to nine games. He’s batting .355 with six extra-base hits and four RBI during that span.
“He’s swung the bat well … it’s taken him a bit to get going,” Rainiers manager Daren Brown said. “He’s doing things that he needs to do. It’s good to see.”
Saturday’s win keeps Tacoma (61-60) 61/2 games behind Reno, which defeated New Orleans, 4-1, in the race for the Pacific Coast League Pacific North Division crown.
The Rainiers and Aces have a four-game series Aug. 20-23 in Nevada.
The Rainiers jumped on Cubs right-hander Alberto Cabrera in the second inning, scoring five runs and taking advantage of three walks and two errors (four total in the game).
The Rainiers already had a 2-0 lead when Johan Limonta ripped a pitch over Matthew Spencer’s head in right field for a three-run double to give Tacoma a 5-0 lead.
Cabrera allowed all three of his walks after giving up two quick runs and left after the second inning for the 55-66 Cubs.
Mike Wilson scored on a throwing error by catcher Wellington Castillo, who was trying to throw out Halman stealing second base. Wilson added a solo home run in the third inning.
Tacoma starter Chris Seddon allowed three hits – including solo home runs to Bryan LaHair and Ryan Flaherty – and struck out six on 100 pitches in six innings.
The outing was a vast improvement over his last start, on Aug. 6 in Albuquerque, where he gave up a season-high 11 runs on nine hits over two innings in a loss to the Isotopes.
Shawn Kelley and Cesar Jimenez came on in relief for Seddon on Saturday, combining for six strikeouts in three shutout innings.
Despite going 0-for-4, Alex Liddi set a franchise record for runs scored in a season when he scored his 111th run in the fourth inning on Carlos Peguero’s RBI double – one of Tacoma’s 10 hits – to extend the lead to 7-1.
Liddi has been one of the PCL’s hottest hitters and is another player vying for a September call-up.
In the past 10 games, Liddi has batted .336 with six home runs and 15 RBI.
“All these guys still have things to show,” Brown said. “We’re playing games, and they have a chance to show what they can do.”
FRENCH’S FUTURE?
Left-handed pitcher Luke French was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
French gave up seven runs on eight hits in two innings in a 9-3 loss to Iowa on Friday. The Rainiers played with just a 22-man roster Saturday.
ON TAP
Iowa sends left-hander Chris Rusin (2-1, 2.67 ERA) against Tacoma right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (2-0, 4.91) in the third game of the four-game set. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 850-AM.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473
mwochnick@theolympian.com
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