Rainiers get dominant performance from bullpen with fifth straight game against Round Rock

Six Tacoma relievers combined to pitch six shout out innings and right hander- Jimmy Yacabonis earned his first save of the season to lead the Rainiers to the 4-2 win .The Rainiers batts were held in check Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium, but Tacoma extended its winning streak to a season-long five games.

Left-hander David Huff, who was making his first appearance in affiliated professional baseball since 2016, started the game and allowed both Round Rock (10-8) runs over 3 innings, surrendering 5 hits and a walk while striking out a batter.

Huff became Tacoma’s 30^th pitcher used this season through 18 games. The 36-year-old is one of eight Rainiers hurlers with just one appearance and is the 14^th pitcher to start a game for Tacoma.

Righty Taylor Guerrieri (1-0) was activated off the 7-day Injured List before Tuesday’s game and pitched a perfect 4^th inning with a strikeout. He was credited with his first win of the season.

Right-hander Zack Weiss allowed a hit but struck out three in the 5^th inning. Southpaws Max Roberts and Williams Jerez each delivered a scoreless frame before righty Vinny Nittoli pitched a scoreless 8^th inning with one hit batter.

Yacabonis entered in the 9^th inning and got the first out on a comeback line drive that deflected off his foot, which he threw to first base while falling to the ground. First baseman Luis Torrens stretched out to receive the throw for the out. Yacabonis struck out the final two batters on called third strikes, earning his first save since 2019 and Tacoma’s third of the campaign.

Tuesday’s victory marked the second time this season that at least five Tacoma pitchers posted scoreless outings and pitched at least one inning. It also occurred in a May 11 extra innings defeat to El Paso.

Offensively, Tacoma jumped out to a 1^st inning advantage when Major League rehabbing outfielder Jake Fraley walked, stole second base, advanced to third on an error, and crossed when Torrens bounced into an RBI ground out.

The Rainiers evened the score in the 3^rd inning, 2-2, when shortstop David Masters crushed his first Triple-A home run to left field, also his first Triple-A hit. Masters scored an insurance run in the 5^th inning on a sacrifice fly for catcher Cal Raleigh, the game’s final run. 

Tacoma took their final lead on a José Marmolejos ground out that plated center fielder Taylor Trammell in the 4^th inning.

The Rainiers are off Wednesday before travelling to Reno for the start of a six-game series against the Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thursday’s first pitch from Greater Nevada Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. PT.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2021 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every home game can be viewed with an MiLB.TV subscription. (Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.)

About the Tacoma Rainiers 

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Triple-A West. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.