A four-run single by Greg Halman turned out to be the game-changing play Wednesday as the Tacoma Rainiers rolled to a 6-1 win over the Tucson Padres at Cheney Stadium.
The score was 1-1 in the fourth when Halman came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.
He laced at single to left field, and Luis Jimenez and Mike Wilson scored.
Pitcher Samuel Deduno cut off the throw to the plate and fired to third base to try to get Tacoma runner Sean Kazmar. However, the throw went high and wide back into left field, allowing Kazmar and finally Halman to come across to score.
“I kept moving because I saw the throw going home,” Halman said. “I don’t know, the (pitcher) got it, overthrew it, and I just kept going. … The ball went all the way to the wall, so I knew when he threw it, I had a chance to go home.”
Halman was asked if he’s ever had, in effect, a grand-slam single before.
“I can’t remember one,” he said. “It happens, I guess.”
That play pushed Tacoma ahead, 5-1.
The Rainiers opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by Jimenez. Then they picked up an extra run in the seventh when Johan Limonta singled home Justin Smoak, who had walked to lead off the inning.
It added up to more support than needed for starting pitcher Nate Robertson, who allowed five hits, one run and no earned runs over eight innings.
Robertson had started the night with what manager Daren Brown considered a deceiving ERA of 7.16.
“He’s thrown the ball well here at home,” Brown said. “He’s had a couple of (tough) games on the road – one game in particular in Colorado Springs where he gave up (10 earned runs). Colorado Springs is most of that ERA. He’s thrown the ball pretty well. Tonight he was locating his pitches, kept the ball down, got his off-speed over the plate, pitched inside, used both sides of the plate. I thought he threw the ball well tonight.”
By the time Robertson walked off the mound for the final time of the night, his ERA had dropped to 6.52, and he had evened his record at 6-6.
“A big game from Halman, and I thought Nate threw the ball well. That was pretty much the story of the game,” Brown said. “… We got a lead early and made it hold up.”
ON TAP
Tacoma (68-71) and Tucson (63-76) conclude their series at 7:05 tonight. The probable pitching matchup sends Padres right-hander Jon Leicester (5-8, 6.52 ERA) against Rainiers left-hander Luke French (8-8, 6.35).
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.