Tacoma bounced back and picked up a 5-3 win over Tucson on Wednesday night, remaining one game behind Salt Lake in the Pacific-North standings.
Brandon Maurer had his best start since early June, lasting 6.2 innings allowing just five hits and two earned runs. He struck out a season-high eight batters,
The rehabilitating Franklin Gutierrez made an impact offensively, driving in three runs with a single, a double, and a sac fly.
Guti managed all of those RBIs because leadoff man Abraham Almonte kept getting on base. Almonte singled, doubled, and tripled – scoring a run each time he reached base.
Two other rehabilitating Mariners factored in the game. Michael Morse was 0-for-3 with a walk as the DH – look for Morse to play most of the game in right field tonight. Relief pitcher Stephen Pryor contributed a 1-2-3 eighth inning, protecting a two-run cushion.
The Rainiers have won two of the first three games against Tucson, and they have a chance to notch a series victory tonight. Considering all that has happened lately, a home series victory would be a huge step toward getting things back on track.
Tonight’s game is at 7:05, and you can hear it on South Sound Sports 850 AM, streaming right here, and available via the TuneIn app for iPads and smart phones. Tacoma starts RHP Taijuan Walker (2-0, 0.86) against Tucson LHP Robbie Erlin (6-3, 5.21).
Links:
- In the Rainiers game story from The News Tribune, manager John Stearns says that emotional control was the key for Brandon Maurer last night.
- The Mariners lost, ending their eight-game win streak, and then the team announced that manager Eric Wedge suffered a minor stroke.
- John McGrath has a reaction piece on the news regarding Wedge.
- Salt Lake remained one game ahead of Tacoma by beating Fresno in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- Sacramento hit a pair of homers and beat Colorado Springs, 5-2. The Sky Sox are falling in the standings – they’re now four games behind Salt Lake, and three behind Tacoma.
- Las Vegas remained in first place in the South by whacking Reno, 11-4. The story is mostly an article on the controlled chaos of batting practice.
- Mike Olt made his Iowa Cubs debut in a 2-1 loss to New Orleans.
- Round Rock fell in Memphis, 3-2, ending a five-game win streak.
- Ruben Sosa hit an inside-the-park home run to help Oklahoma City beat Omaha, 11-4.
- Nashville lost to Albuquerque, but pitcher Tim Dillard continues to have fun.
This is the last game of the brief homestand, but don’t fret: the road trip that starts Friday is just a four-game weekend junket to Reno, and the Rainiers will be back home on Tuesday night.
