New Orleans and Tacoma are two of the top home run hitting teams in the PCL. If fans at Cheney Stadium didn’t know that before Monday’s game, they sure had an idea by the end of it.
The two teams combined to mash seven homers, but New Orleans also scored a few runs without the benefit of a homer, and they beat Tacoma 9-4. The teams have split the first two games of a four-game series.
Top Zephyrs slugger Luke Montz led the way with a pair of dingers, including the go-ahead two-run blast in the fifth inning that gave New Orleans a 6-4 lead. Montz has 24 home runs, which ranks second in the PCL (Mike Hessman of Oklahoma City has 29).
Tacoma’s home runs were hit by Alex Liddi, Vinnie Catricala, and Luis Rodriguez. Liddi and Catricala have each hit two home runs during this homestand – which is very nice to see, considering how each has struggled to hit for power at home this year.
Tacoma reliever Chance Ruffin had another nice outing, retiring all five batters he faced. Since June 20, Ruffin has a 2.35 ERA over 15 appearances.
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 Andrew Carraway (3-6, 4.79) against New Orleans RHP Jacob Turner (1-0, 4.09).
Links:
- We start with the Rainiers game story from The News Tribune. Todd Milles’ story includes a Danny Hultzen update (of sorts).
- The Mariners can’t seem to do much against Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman, who beat his former employer once again.
- The always logical Larry Stone says its time to do something about the Chone Figgins roster spot.
- John Sickels went back and reviewed his pre-season Mariners Top Prospects list.
- Jason Churchill has a write-up on a pair of interesting undrafted pitchers the Mariners just signed.
- SB Nation is killing it with Mariners stuff today: in real life, Rob Neyer looks at Felix‘s finest games, and in not-so-real life, we have a look back at Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1996 presidential campaign.
- In the PCL, Salt Lake beat Oklahoma City on a tenth inning homer by Kole Calhoun.
- The Iowa Cubs added a speedster to the lineup, but they still lost to Reno, 2-1. Trevor Bauer returned to action for the Aces, tossing six scoreless innings.
- Nashville ended Sacramento’s six-game win streak, and hot-hitting Khris Davis had another big game.
- Todd Linden‘s tenth inning pinch-hit triple helped Fresno to a 2-1 win over Memphis.
- Las Vegas picked up a 4-1 win at Round Rock last night.
- Tommy Lasorda turned up in Albuquerque and starting telling stories. The ‘Topes lost to Tucson, 14-11.
- Update from Omaha: the ballpark is still in the middle of nothing. << includes photo of nothing.
Night game tonight, and then our final mid-week day game of the season is Wednesday at 11:35 AM. Join us for a long lunch!
