Wilson, Sweeney return to Rainiers, boost team to 7-2 win in Iowa
MIKE CURTO
Mike Wilson and Brian Sweeney are back, and the Tacoma Rainiers are happy to have them.
In his second game after missing six weeks with a strained groin, Wilson went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs batted in, helping Tacoma to a 7-2 win over the Iowa Cubs.
Wilson’s two-run double in the third inning gave Tacoma a 4-0 lead, and his run-scoring double in the ninth provided a valuable insurance run.
“It’s good to be back,” said Wilson, who spent nearly a month in extended spring training rehabilitating the injury. “Down in Arizona it’s just getting your at-bats and getting your work in, but here it’s real baseball.”
Sweeney made the start for Tacoma, his first appearance since suffering a concussion on May 5 in Reno.
Sweeney tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three singles. He did not issue a walk, and no Iowa base runner advanced past first while he was on the mound.
“(Catcher Guillermo) Quiroz called a good game, and I was able to execute my pitches and keep my pitch count down,” said Sweeney. “I was happy to get through six.”
Sweeney (1-0) had early run support. Tacoma scored in the top of the first inning when Carlos Peguero lined a solo home run to right field, his eighth of the season.
The Iowa Cubs will be happy to see Peguero leave town – he hit four home runs in the four-game series, while going 7-for-15 at the plate.
Trayvon Robinson added a sacrifice fly in the second inning, and Wilson’s first double came in the third inning to make it 4-0.
Tacoma second baseman Luis Rodriguez doubled in the fourth inning, extending his hitting streak to 19 consecutive games. He added an RBI single in the sixth, giving Tacoma a 5-0 lead.
SHORT HOPS
Sweeney was activated from the disabled list prior to the game. ….
The Rainiers placed catcher Brandon Bantz and outfielder Johan Limonta on the 7-day disabled list, and announced that catcher Ralph Henriquez will arrive from Double-A Jackson on Friday. …
Limonta returned to Miami for his naturalization hearing, completing the US citizenship process. …
Tacoma (20-27) won three of the four games in the series in Iowa. The Rainiers finished the Midwest road trip through Omaha and Iowa with a 5-3 record.
ON TAP
The Rainiers are home for Memorial Day weekend, hosting Tucson in a four-game series starting with a 7:05 p.m. game Friday. Tacoma starts Anthony Vasquez (5-2, 4.44) against Tucson’s Tom Layne (0-2, 4.50).
