Shed Long Jr’s home run in the bottom of the first inning opened the flood gates for the Rainiers who scored five times in the first two innings on their way to a 5-4 win over the Bees Saturday night at Cheney Stadium .
In addition to the runs four Tacoma relievers combined for 5 1/3 innings, allowing 1 run and combining for 9 strikeouts. Long belted a 2-0 pitch from Salt Lake (11-16) starter Jake Buchanan (1-2) over the right-center field wall to tie the game, 1-1. The home run is Long’s first since joining Tacoma (14-13) on a rehab assignment on May 28.
Tacoma has homered in 14 straight games, the longest active streak in the league. The 14-game stretch matches the club’s longest streak since May 11-25. The team record since 2005 is 17 straight games with a long ball from June 25-July 15, 2010.
The Rainiers added 2 runs in the 1st inning on a shallow pop up to right field by first baseman Jantzen Witte that dropped and scored catcher Luis Torrens and center fielder Dillon Thomas.
In the 2nd inning, Thomas poked a 2-run double to center field, plating Long and third baseman Brett Rodriguez, building the Tacoma lead, 5-1.
Salt Lake started the scoring with a 1st inning home run from center fielder Jo Adell. The solo shot is Adell’s league-leading 15th of the season. Rainiers (14-13) starter Bernie Martinez allowed 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out one Bees hitter.
Justin Grimm (2-0) earned his second win of the season by pitching 1 1/3 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts. The right-hander relieved Martinez with two outs in the 3rd inning and a runner on third base. Grimm struck out Brennon Lund on four pitches, stranding the runner.
Right-handers Wyatt Mills and Williams Jerez each pitched a pair of scoreless innings, with Mills punching out four and Jerez striking out two. Righty Jimmy Yacabonis allowed a 9th inning home run but forced Adell to ground out to shortstop to end the game and earn his second save of the campaign.
The Rainiers and Bees will continue their six-game series on Sunday at Cheney Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. PT as Tacoma right-hander Vinny Nittoli (1-0) will face off against Bees righty Jaime Barria (0-1).
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