DES MOINES, Iowa – After making seven errors in a 10-run loss on Tuesday, the Tacoma Rainiers needed a better performance Wednesday at Principal Park in Iowa.
They got it.
Tacoma scored four early runs, got a strong pitching performance from Andrew Carraway and, most importantly, cut the errors down to a more manageable total of two in an 8-3 win over the Iowa Cubs.
“I was happy with the way we bounced back,” Tacoma manager Daren Brown said.
The Rainiers scored early and often against Cubs starter Brooks Raley, who lost his Triple-A debut.
Trayvon Robinson and Luis Rodriguez greeted Raley with singles to start the game, and two batters later Carlos Peguero’s sacrifice fly gave the Rainiers a 1-0 lead.
Tacoma made it 2-0 in the second inning when Scott Savastano hit his first Triple-A home run.
The Rainiers kept adding runs, taking a 7-1 lead in the sixth inning on a two-out, two-run double by Rodriguez off former Rainiers and Mariners left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI. He extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
“He’s been swinging the bat good for a few weeks,” Brown said. “He’s one of our veteran guys, he comes ready to play and you know what you are going to get from him every day.”
Rehabilitating Mariners catcher Miguel Olivo contributed. He caught all nine innings, playing his first complete game defensively since suffering a strained groin April 30. He had two hits, including a ninth-inning homer off former Royals and Nationals closer Mike MacDougal.
“I thought he looked good, he was moving around good,” Brown said. “He caught nine innings, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Carraway (2-0) turned in his third consecutive quality start (meaning six innings no more than three earned runs) since being promoted from Double-A Jackson. Carraway allowed three runs in six innings with five strikeouts.
SHORT HOPS
Mike Wilson was activated from the disabled list and started in left field, going 0-for-4 in his first game since April 7. He was out with a groin injury. … Pitcher Jarrett Grube was placed on the DL with a leg injury. … PCL home run leader Anthony Rizzo hit a solo shot off Carraway in the sixth for his 16th of the season. … Tacoma’s Erasmo Ramirez on Tuesday became the third pitcher in PCL history to make three errors in one game.
ON TAP
The trip ends with another 10:05 a.m. (PDT) game today in Des Moines. Tacoma will start Brian Sweeney (0-0, 5.74 ERA) against Chris Rusin (4-3, 3.02).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Tacoma Rainiers.