Tacoma's Win Streak Snapped In 6-3 Loss To Salt Lake

The Rainiers fall short for just the second time in their last 11 contests

Rainiers outfielder Ian Miller. (Jeff Halstead)

By Max Madden

June 21, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. - The Tacoma Rainiers (38-35) fell to the Salt Lake Bees (42-31) by a final score of 6-3 Thursday night at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City.Tacoma starter Rob Whalen allowed three runs across three innings and struck out four during his fourteenth start of the season.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. - The Tacoma Rainiers (38-35) fell to the Salt Lake Bees (42-31) by a final score of 6-3 Thursday night at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City.
Tacoma starter Rob Whalen allowed three runs across three innings and struck out four during his fourteenth start of the season.

Relievers Darin Gilles (0.2) and Tucker Healy (2.0) were the bright spots out of the Tacoma bullpen, allowing just one run on one hit across nearly three innings.
Center fielder Ian Miller (2x4, R, BB) left fielder Andrew Aplin (1x3, R, BB, 2B) and first baseman Gordon Beckham (2x5, RBI, 2B) led the way for the Rainiers on offense.
A trio of singles plated the Bees a run during the bottom half of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
A home run from Jabari Blash and an RBI-double from Sherman Johnson in the third extended Salt Lake's lead to 3-0.
Eric Young Jr. hit an RBI ground-rule double to extend Salt Lake's lead in the fifth, but the Rainiers answered with a two-run sixth to cut the deficit. Catcher David Freitas recorded his first hit with Tacoma with an RBI-single to left field to score first baseman Daniel Vogelbach and right fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled to shortstop to score Aplin and make it 4-2.
An RBI-double from Beckham in the top of the seventh scored Miller and pulled the Rainiers within one at 4-3.
Rymer Liriano added a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to extend Salt Lake's lead to 6-3.
The Rainiers and Bees return to action Friday night at 6:05 p.m. for game two of the four-game series. Right-hander Casey Lawrence (5-2, 2.42) will get the start for Tacoma and righty Félix Peña (1-0, 1.80) will be on the hill for Salt Lake.
All tickets, group outings, and suites packages for the 2018 season are available for purchase in person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online atTacomaRainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.