Baserunning mistakes are beginning to haunt the Rainiers, to a point where they may cost Tacoma the opportunity to defend the Pacific Coast League title.
The Rainiers made a litany of blunders on the bases, running into outs and failing to advance when opportunities were available during a 3-1 loss to Omaha in front of a sellout crowd of 7,508 at Cheney Stadium on Friday.
The Storm Chasers (71-55) completed a four-game series sweep of the Rainers.
After eight innings, the score was tied 1-1. Up to that point in the game, Omaha had one hit and two baserunners – while the Rainiers had nine hits and 13 baserunners.
Michael Saunders doubled home Mike Wilson to tie the game in the fourth inning, and he was at second base with no outs. But he failed to advance to third on a groundout that was fielded behind second base, and then he was doubled off the bag when Ralph Henriquez lined out to center.
Wilson singled to open the sixth, and Saunders followed with a perfect bunt up the third base line, beating the throw for a single. But Wilson took too big of a turn past second, and Omaha first baseman Kila Ka’aihue threw behind him for the first out of the inning.
“We’ve got guys that know better than that,” Tacoma manager Daren Brown said. “For whatever reason, the last two or three days we’ve had some mental lapses on the bases, and it’s something that we’ve addressed.”
Rainiers reliever Fabio Castro (5-4) walked Joaquin Arias to lead off the ninth, and he was bunted to second. Irving Falu reached on an infield single, leaving runners at the corners.
Shawn Kelley was summoned from the bullpen to face Lorenzo Cain, and Cain ripped a first-pitch fastball into the gap in right-center for a two-run double.
“Then it comes down to the ninth inning, and we issue a leadoff walk,” Brown said. “If you do things like that, you’re not going to beat a good club.”
Tacoma wasted a terrific outing by starter Jarrett Grube. Grube lasted seven innings and gave up just one hit – a second-inning home run to Clint Robinson. Grube did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Tacoma (63-64) is now 51/2 games behind first-place Reno with 17 games to play. The teams open a four-game series at Reno tonight.
“I’d like to go in and win on the first night, and set the tone,” said Brown. “We’re five-and-a-half back, but we’re playing the team that’s in front of us.”
SHORT HOPS
Pitcher Luke French, who cleared waivers and was sent outright to Tacoma on Thursday, will join the team today in Reno. … Omaha swept Tacoma for the second year in a row.
ON TAP
The Rainiers’ final road trip of the season – a nine-gamer – opens in Reno at 7:05 tonight. Tacoma starts Erasmo Ramirez (3-0, 3.26) against Reno’s Kevin Mulvey (3-7, 6.97).
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