During the past three weeks or so, the Tacoma Rainiers have made up a lot of ground, shrinking division-leading Reno’s lead to 41/2 games.
But despite the Rainiers’ 3-2 loss to the Iowa Storm Chasers in the first of a four-game series at Cheney Stadium on Tuesday night, the remaining three games – plus a crucial four-game set at Reno starting Saturday – mean the Rainiers have a chance to make up more ground.
“We’ll see where we’re at once we get to that series,” said Rainiers manager Daren Brown of the series against the Aces. “We have Omaha in town and need to take care of business here.”
On July 29, the Rainiers trailed the Aces by 111/2 games, but they have posted an 11-6 record since, while the Aces have gone in another direction – 4-13, including blowing a three-run lead late in Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Oklahoma City.
Tuesday’s Rainiers game was scoreless until the fifth inning, when Omaha (68-55) scored twice on a double by Cody Clark and Kurt Mertins’ single. The Rainiers (63-61) tied the game in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Michael Saunders and Chris Gimenez.
Rainiers starter Anthony Vasquez (4-3) went seven innings, gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out two.In the sixth, he loaded the bases with no outs, but the Storm Chasers managed only one run – but that proved to be the game-winner.
“I thought (Vasquez) did a nice job of getting out of that with just the one run,” Brown said. “But it ended up being the one run they needed.”
Omaha reliever Jesse Chavez struck out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth, including pinch-hitter Luis Jimenez with Carlos Triunfel on first.
Tacoma’s best shot to tie the game came in the eighth, when Gimenez reached base on an error. He was stranded at second following back-to-back strikeouts.
ON TAP
Tacoma and Iowa continue their series tonight at 7:05. The Storm Chasers will send right-hander Jeff Suppan (11-6, 4.64 ERA) to the mound against Rainiers right-hander Forrest Snow (0-2, 7.15). The game will be broadcast on 850-AM.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
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