The two players gained – pitchers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar – in the trade of Ichiro Suzuki to the New York Yankees made their Tacoma Rainiers debuts Thursday night.
Mitchell started, giving up one run in five innings, and Farquhar pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
All together, four Rainiers pitchers combined to hold Tucson to one run on seven hits, but Tacoma’s offense stalled and the Padres escaped with a 1-0 win at Cheney Stadium.
The loss was Tacoma’s 11th defeat in its past 13 games. The Rainiers (42-63) are in last place in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Northern Division.
Mitchell, a 25-year-old right-hander, scattered four hits and two walks, while striking out four – he threw 87 pitches, including 50 for strikes. Mitchell exhibited a solid changeup and had success throwing his curveball for strikes.
“He was a little deep in the count at times,” Tacoma manager Daren Brown said. “He made some pitches when he needed to. He was 3-2 on a lot of guys, but he also showed he wasn’t afraid to throw his changeup or curveball when he was behind in the count.
“For his first time here, for the most part, he did a nice job.”
Tucson scored the game’s lone run in the second inning. With two out, Mitchell walked designated hitter Vince Belnome. He stole second and scored when Sawyer Carroll drilled a double to right field.
Tacoma sent one base runner past first base against Tucson (40-64). Justin Smoak lined a one-out double to center field in the fourth inning, but was stranded when Luis Jimenez and Alex Liddi ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
Smoak came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to be a hero. With one out and Nick Franklin on first, Smoak blistered the first pitch he saw. Smoak lined the ball directly to shortstop Andy Parrino. Parrino then tossed the ball to first baseman Matt Clark, who tagged first base and doubled up Franklin, who was halfway to second base.
Smoak had two of Tacoma’s three hits. He went 2-for-4, recording his first multi-hit game since being demoted Monday.
Franklin tallied Tacoma’s other hit. His first-inning single extended his hitting streak to seven games.
SHORT HOPS
To make room for Farquhar on the Tacoma roster, the organization released reliever Scott Patterson after activating the 33-year-old from the disabled list. The team also sent left-handed reliever Jose Jimenez to Double-A Jackson.
ON TAP
Tacoma left-hander Steve Garrison (0-3, 5.76 ERA) will start the final game of the homestand vs. Tucson right-hander Bear Bay (2-6, 4.81).
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com 253-597-8271
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