DES MOINES, Iowa – Carlos Peguero’s first impression of Principal Park: he likes it.
In his first game in Des Moines, Peguero homered in each of his first two at-bats, leading Tacoma to an 8-2 series-opening victory over the Iowa Cubs.
Two outs after a leadoff double from Trayvon Robinson, Peguero lifted a deep fly over the left field fence on the first pitch from Jay Jackson to give Tacoma a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
That was still the score in the third when rehabilitating Mariners catcher Miguel Olivo singled to right.
This time, Peguero launched a 1-1 pitch deep over the right-field wall. The ball cleared a picnic area and landed beyond the stadium property, on the bank of the Raccoon River.
“He caught a couple balls pretty good,” said an understating Tacoma manager Daren Brown.
Peguero was hit by a pitch in the fifth and singled in the seventh to finish 3-for-4 with four RBI.
The Rainiers scored two more runs in the third on RBI singles by Vinnie Catricala and Leury Bonilla to take a 6-0 lead – but the game was in doubt throughout, because of sloppy-but-effective performances by Tacoma pitchers.
Four Tacoma pitchers combined to issue 10 walks and allow 10 hits. Iowa loaded the bases in four innings, and it seemed that the Cubs were always a hit away from getting back into the game.
Iowa stranded 16, and the Cubs were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Forrest Snow (1-4) battled through control problems. Snow allowed one run in five innings, but walked five and needed 104 pitches despite working with a healthy lead.
Stephen Pryor even got in on the act. The power-reliever has had good control for Tacoma in his first five outings, but Monday he walked three batters, loading the bases in the ninth inning before striking out Nate Samson to end the game.
“The game ended the way it should – they had the bases loaded all night,” Brown said.
SHORT HOPS
Brown said Olivo will be the designated hitter today, and if he feels good he will catch again Wednesday. … Catcher Brandon Bantz replaced Olivo in the sixth but left the game two innings later with a minor injury. He singled in his only at-bat, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
ON TAP
Tacoma and Iowa play the first of three consecutive day games, with first pitch set for 10:05 a.m. (PDT). Tacoma starts Erasmo Ramirez (1-0, 2.84) against Iowa’s Chris Volstad (0-0, 0.00).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Tacoma Rainiers.
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