Colorado Springs slugger Andrew Brown dashed the Rainiers bid to win their fourth in a row on Friday night, homering in the ninth inning to tie the game, and then going deep again in the 11th to win it for the Sky Sox, 4-3.
It was an impressive show, Andrew, but please don’t do that again.
Danny Hultzen started for the Rainiers and had a hard-to-grasp outing. He lasted five innings, giving up two runs and only one was earned. He struck out seven. All good, right? Well, he allowed 11 baserunners on eight hits and three walks, and he was constantly in trouble. One fan wrote to me and called him “Houdini Hultzen” for his ability to get out of jams – hopefully that nickname won’t stick, because he’ll stop getting in trouble all of the time.
Hultzen has yet to get past five innings in a start and still appears to be a long way away from being able to help the big club. That’s OK, though – he’s just 3.5 months into his first professional season; it’s pretty remarkable that he is even in Triple-A right now.
The Rainiers had another big hit from Darren Ford last night. Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Ford hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead. Until Brown started performing his heroics, it appeared as if this was the game-winning hit. Ford has a 15-game hitting streak going into tonight.
Tonight’s game is at 7:05, and you can hear it on South Sound Sports 850 AM and streaming online right here. Tacoma starts RHP Hector Noesi in his Rainiers debut against Colorado Springs LHP Edwar Cabrera (2-0, 3.86).
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PARKING ADVISORY: I’ve been told that the main parking lot is already sold out for Saturday’s game. The Foss lots will be open, so either park there or park in the surrounding neighborhood and walk in. Gates are opening at 5:00 today for the general public, so arrive early if you are concerned about parking.
Links:
- We start with the Rainiers game story from The News Tribune.
- It rained for about 15 minutes during last night’s Rainiers game – but up in Everett, it rained enough to cancel the game, delaying the professional debut of Mariners No. 1 draft pick Mike Zunino to today.
- Tacoma’s Dick Greco has passed away. Greco hit 333 minor league home runs before going into a long and notorious career in politics here in town.
- Here is what happens if a batter tries to hit a baseball that was pitched at 90% of the speed of light. Cliff’s Notes: after the mushroom cloud dissipates, the batter is awarded first base (in the unlikely event that any bits of the base remain). A pinch-runner will be required.
- In the PCL, Tucson’s Jedd Gyorko is one of the hottest hitters in the league. However, his Padres lost to Fresno last night.
- Sacramento phenom Dan Straily struck out 13 batters, allowed one hit – and lost to Las Vegas, 1-0. We have a possible Straily vs. Hultzen match-up on tap for Wednesday at Cheney Stadium.
- The Reno paper won’t allow me free access anymore – so no links for now, I guess – but the Aces beat Salt Lake 7-2 yesterday behind Tyler Skaggs, who is supposed to be pretty good.
- Omaha starter Will Smith tossed a gem and the Storm Chasers beat Iowa, 4-3.
- Albuquerque’s Fernando Nieve and three relievers combined on a 7-0 shutout at Nashville.
- Round Rock was shut out at home for the second day in a row by Memphis. With the all-star break, it’s been six days since the Express scored!
- New Orleans went into Oklahoma City and came away with a 10-8 victory.
That’s it for today – I’ll have more for you on Sunday.
Mike-
Rainiers got robbed of a run tonight, by either the umpire or the scorekeeper, not sure who’s call it was.
Bottom of the 7th, two out. Runner on Third. Batter dribbles the ball up the first base line. The runner at third takes off for home, easily reaching home plate before the first baseman fields the ball. The First Baseman tags the batter for the third out.
The third out was a fielder’s choice, not a force out, therefore the run should have counted.
If I am not correct, please elucidate.
That rule does not apply when the out is recorded at first base.