Tacoma Rainiers snap Cats' six-game winning streak

Photo by Ahsan Awan

Originally published on SacramentoPress.com on June 2, 2010

The Tacoma Rainiers got off to an early start and continued to score runs as they defeated the Sacramento River Cats 12-3 at Raley Field Tuesday. 

The Rainiers (25-24) pounced early on River Cats' (25-28) starting pitcher John Halama, scoring four runs in the first. After getting the first two batters to ground out, Rainiers' Tommy Everidge was able to reach first on a fielding error by Halama. After a walk to Mike Carp, Guillermo Quiroz singled to center field bringing home Everidge for the first run of the game. 

With Carp on third and Quiroz on second and two outs in the bottom of the first, the Rainiers' right fielder Greg Halman hit a soaring three-run homerun over center field. 

In the bottom of the second, Cats' catcher Josh Donaldson was ejected from the game immediately after complaining to home plate umpire Chris Tiller after being called out on strikes. Donaldson was replaced by catcher Anthony Recker. 

The River Cats' first run of the game came in the same inning when Cats' center fielder Matt Carson hit a solo home run over the left-center field wall. 

After little action in the third inning, there was an interesting play in the top of the fourth when the River Cats attempted to turn a double play.

 As Cameron Wimbley attempted to turn the double play, his throw hit a sliding Halman and the ball was knocked down. Initially, the Cats were only awarded the out at second, until manager Tony DeFrancesco came out to argue, resulting in the umpires to meet and eventually award the Cats the double play. 

Carson hit another solo home run for the River Cats in the bottom of the fifth inning, to virtually the same spot, pulling the Cats to a two-run deficit. But that was the closest they got as the Rainiers scored another three runs in the top of the seventh inning, led by a two RBI double by the Rainiers' Halman. 

The Rainiers' offense was led by right fielder Greg Halman, who finished 3-5 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs. The Rainiers' offense finished with a total of 12 runs off of 14 hits, four of which were home runs. 

The River Cats were only able to produce three runs off of seven hits for the game and produced three errors on defense.

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