Rainiers cash in, take both games of doubleheader vs Aces
By Charles Hamaker
Tacoma, WA – The Tacoma Rainiers continued their early season success, taking both games of a doubleheader that was created as yesterday’s April 6th game against Reno was postponed. The Aces can’t seem to catch a break, as they currently are slumping with a five-game losing streak, and the Rainiers were happy to nab the wins from them. Tacoma already has the series win in hand over Reno, having taken the first four games of this six-game series in their first homestand of the 2023 campaign. The victory, and their four-game winning streak, has them sitting in third place in the Pacific Coast League.
Tacoma Rainiers starting pitcher Darren McCaughan (Photo by Elisabeth Adams)
Darren Day deals good hand
Rainiers starter Darren McCaughan got the start in game one for Tacoma, getting his second appearance on the mound this season after getting the win on Opening Day in Oklahoma City. The blonde-haired hurler leads the Rainiers rotation and was able to give Tacoma five innings of three run ball on seven hits. Through the 82 pitches that he threw, McCaughan avoided walking on of the Aces and struck out four of them, doing his best to keep his team in the fight against a somewhat inspired Reno team trying to make the most of this doubleheader and end their losing streak. The six-year veteran of the Mariners farm system, McCaughan’s play should help this group with several ready for an MLB chance at the top of the Pacific Coast League standings.
Tacoma Rainiers outfielder Zach DeLoach crosses home plate (Photo by Elisabeth Adams)
DeLoach hits the jackpot for game one walk-off, rides hot-hand in game two
Outfielder Zach DeLoach, having made his way up through the Mariners organization after being drafted by Seattle in 2019, made his impact throughout both games of the doubleheader. The former Texas A&M Aggie lead the Tacoma offensive attack in this game, racking up two hits, two runs, three RBI, and even a walk on the day to total six bases on the day. The highlight of his day came in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Pat Valaika and Cesar Hernandez on the base pathes and Tacoma down a run, as DeLoach hammered a ball at the top of the zone out over the right-field fence. Following his walk off in game one, DeLoach added on a 2-RBI performance in the team's 5-2 victory in the latter half of the doubleheader to bring his total bases on the day to eight.
Tacoma Rainiers reliever JB Bukauskas came in to relieve Easton McGee to seal game two of the doubleheader (Photos by Elisabeth Adams)
McGee is money for second half of doubleheader
For the second game of the doubleheader, Tacoma rolled with starter Easton McGee, and the former Boston Red Sox organization player dealed like he was at a casino. McGee, acquired in November of last year in trade that sent cash to the Red Sox, allowed four runs on seven hits in only four and a third inning against the Oklahoma City Dodgers in his first outing of the season. He hit back harder in his second outing, pitching six rock solid innings of one run ball on three hits. Like the Mariners standard of starting pitching, it seems as though the Rainiers may use the same sort of formula to collect wins this season.
Tacoma’s offense throughout the two games (Photos by Elisabeth Adams)
What’s next?
Tomorrow, April 8th, the Rainiers will host these Aces looking to flush their recent failures when the teams meet inside on the Cheney Stadium diamond with a first pitch time of 6:05PM PST. The Rainiers and Cheney Stadium will be hosting “Seltzer Saturday” at the ballpark, so the crowd will surely be ready to rock when Tacoma aims to take game of this series, and potentially on their way to a sweep of Reno. The Aces will have Brandon Pfaadt on the mound, while the Rainiers have yet to name a starter at this point.