Justin Smoak’s nose may have been the marquee body part going into the Tacoma Rainiers game against Tucson Monday night, but it was Greg Halman’s arm that stimulated most of the post-game talk.
Halman had already made two nice defensive plays in right field before he rocked a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth to set up Michael Saunders’ dramatic two-run game-winning homer to give the Rainiers a 4-2 victory at Cheney Stadium.
The win was not enough to keep the Rainiers’ post-season hopes off life-support as a Reno win over Fresno meant that Tacoma (67-70) is all but eliminated in the race to defend its 2010 Pacific Coast League title, falling seven games behind the Aces with seven games left to play for each team.
Halman’s laser arm shrunk a sure double into a single earlier in the game, but it was the dart he threw to nail pinch-runner Jarrett Hoffpauir at third in the top of the ninth that really spurred the Rainiers.
Halman came back and lined a single to left with two outs to bring up Saunders.
“He made that perfect throw to third to end that potential inning they had in the top of the ninth, and that can really lead a guy into his next at-bat,” Saunders said of Halman’s hit. “It just jacks up the whole club. You get pretty amped up (to come to bat) … anybody who’s an athlete loves to be put in that situation.”
But Saunders was facing a right-handed reliever with a tricky submarine delivery, Pat Neshek, who was offering change-ups. With a 1-1 count, Neshek let the pitch float into the strike zone and Saunders sent it over the right-field wall for his sixth home run.
Saunders said it was only his second or third professional walk-off homer, “so it’s always exciting and fun to see the guys waiting for you at home,” he said. “I got beat up a little bit, but it’s all part of the fun.”
At least they didn’t break his nose. Smoak could testify to the problems that can cause. He had played 101 games with the parent club this season before being put on the Mariners 15-day disabled list on Aug.12 after getting hit with a bad-hop ground ball against the Boston Red Sox.
In his first rehab game, Smoak was hit with a pitch (not in the schnoz), walked and grounded out while playing six innings at first.
Rainiers manager Daren Brown said Smoak came out of the game feeling strong and his progress will be evaluated daily. He’s expected to be designated hitter in tonight’s game against Tucson.
ON TAP
Tacoma continues its series against Tucson tonight at 7:05 with the Padres starting left-hander Rob Musgrave (1-2, 6.82 ERA) and the Rainiers going with righty Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 6.14).
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