NASHVILLE, Tenn. – New Tacoma Rainiers starting pitcher D.J. Mitchell is getting a fast lesson in recent Seattle Mariners history.
Acquired from the Yankees in the Ichiro Suzuki trade July 23, Mitchell made his fifth start for the Rainiers on Thursday.
He went eight innings and allowed two runs – and got a no-decision in Tacoma’s 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Nashville Sounds on Thursday.
It was the fourth time in five starts that Mitchell has pitched well enough to earn a win, yet he is still searching for his first Tacoma victory.
He lowered his ERA to 3.26 while giving up two runs or fewer for the fourth time.
“He threw the ball really well,” Tacoma manager Daren Brown said. “The only drawback being both times we took the lead, he gave up a run in the bottom of those innings. He gave himself a chance to win.”
The Rainiers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth on a Nick Franklin groundout that scored Carlos Triunfel, but Nashville connected for three singles in a row to open the bottom of the inning, leading to the tying run scoring.
In the eighth against reliever Brandon Kintzler, Luis Jimenez drove in Franklin with a long, two-out double to give Tacoma a 2-1 lead.
New Nashville outfielder Khris Davis led off the bottom of the eighth with a game-tying homer.
A right-handed batter, Davis drove a fly ball down the right-field line that barely cleared the wall and barely stayed fair.
Brian Moran relieved Mitchell for the bottom of the ninth and retired all three batters, striking out two to send it to extra innings.
Nashville won it in the 10th when Moran could not field his position.
Logan Schafer opened the inning with a single to left, and he took second when Moran made an errant pickoff throw past first baseman Alex Liddi.
Eric Farris bunted, but Moran picked up the bunt and threw it past Liddi again, allowing Schafer to score the winning run.
“If you can’t handle the ball, you can’t win close games,” Brown said.
Tacoma made four errors in the game, raising their league-leading total to 127.
SHORT HOPS
A massive thunderstorm descended on Greer Stadium moments after the winning run scored… Jimenez has hit safely in seven consecutive games, with four homers and 10 RBI… Brewers top pitching prospect Wily Peralta started for Nashville, allowing one run in seven innings, striking out seven.
ON TAP
The trip concludes with a game in Nashville at 5:05 p.m. (PDT). Tacoma starts Andrew Carraway (4-6, 4.28 ERA) against Nashville’s Brian Baker (2-4, 4.74).
Mike Curto is the radio broadcaster for the Rainiers.
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.