COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – No lead is safe in Colorado Springs.
That’s a Pacific Coast League mantra that has been proven true time and time again.
And it nearly was proven again Thursday night, when the Tacoma Rainiers fell behind Colorado Springs 9-0 after five innings and nearly staged a comeback.
However, All-Star closer Jim Miller was able to get big outs in the eighth and ninth innings to help the Sky Sox hold on for an 11-7 victory.
Tacoma starter Erasmo Ramirez fell behind in the count repeatedly during the first five innings, and the Sky Sox took advantage by piling up the runs.
Ramirez (3-1) allowed nine runs on 11 hits in 4 innings. He allowed the leadoff man to reach base in four of the five innings he worked.
“Ramirez wasn’t real sharp,” said Tacoma manager Daren Brown. “He was facing an older group here, and he gave up some hits and he gave up some runs.”
The Sky Sox were up 3-0 just three batters into the first inning. Willy Taveras led off with a walk, Jesus Merchan singled to right, and Chris Nelson launched a hanging breaking ball over the left-field fence for a three-run homer.
Nelson would add a solo blast in the sixth off Tacoma reliever Chaz Roe, giving him a two-homer night in his first game since being optioned to Triple-A by the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Tacoma scored five runs in the sixth to make it interesting, with Ralph Henriquez contributing a two-run double.
The Rainiers scored another run in the seventh on a long double by Carlos Triunfel that hit a foot from the top of the left field fence – just missing his first Triple-A home run.
Down 10-6 in the eighth, the Rainiers put two runners on with one out but couldn’t break through against Miller, who struck out Mike Wilson to end the inning.
Miller worked his way through the ninth, after allowing a solo homer to Johan Limonta, to get his 22nd save.
Gonzaga product Clayton Mortensen (2-7) earned the win. He pitched five scoreless innings before giving up five runs in the sixth and finished with a season-high nine strikeouts in 5 innings.
SHORT HOPS
Tacoma added infielder Danny Lopez, who was hitting .247 with two home runs and 17 RBI for Everett while playing second, third, and shortstop. Lopez provides infield depth while Matt Tuiasosopo is out with a strained right hamstring. … Henriquez snapped out of a 3-for-43 slump by going 3-for-5. … Mike Wilson had two hits, extending his hitting streak to nine games.
ON TAP
The series continues today with a 6:05 (PDT) game. Tacoma is likely to start Nate Robertson (5-6, 6.43 ERA) against Greg Reynolds (6-7, 6.82).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Rainiers.
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