TACOMA, WASH. - Salt Lake rallied for three runs in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead, but Tacoma answered with a grand slam in the sixth to regain control. The Bees were unable to mount another comeback, falling 6-3 to the Rainiers on Friday night.
Tacoma 6, Salt Lake 3
WP: Cooper Criswell (2-0)
LP: Mitch Farris (1-1)
SV: Seth Shuman (2)
Key Performers
Jeimer Candelario: 2-4, 2 RBI
Kyren Paris: 1-4, R, RBI, 2 K, SB
Arol Vera: 1-3, R, K
Game Summary
Tacoma struck first for the first time in the series, thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Leo Rivas, driving in a leadoff walk to give the Rainiers an early 2-0 lead.
Following a leadoff groundout to begin the top of the third inning, the Bees clawed in front. Arol Vera singled to start the rally, and Nelson Rada worked a walk to move Vera into scoring position. After a flyout, Kyren Paris came in clutch with a single to score Vera and give Salt Lake its first run. The next batter, Jeimer Candelario, cashed in, clearing the bases with a two-run single into center field to give the Bees a 3-2 lead.
Both squads traded zeroes in the fourth and fifth innings, but after two quick outs to begin the sixth, the Rainiers took advantage of a double and two walks. Miles Mastrobuoni then blasted a grand slam to put Tacoma up 6-3 after six innings.
Salt Lake generated base traffic in the eighth inning, but two stranded runners left the score unchanged.
Both teams’ pitchers faced the minimum, including the Bees, who went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to hand the Rainiers their second straight victory and guarantee at least a series split for the Mariners’ top affiliate.
Game Notes
- The Bees dropped a rare Friday contest, moving to 15-8 on the year and 7-4 on the road. It was their first road defeat on Friday since July 31 at Sugar Land when Salt Lake was walked off 4-3 in 10 innings. Tonight’s loss represented their 35th loss of the second half, matching their first half total and putting the season record at 58-70.
- Salt Lake failed to hit a home run for the first time since August 13 at El Paso, ending their 11-game streak. Additionally, the Bees also came up empty on any kind of extra base hit, their first such game since August 6 vs. Oklahoma City.
- The Bees mustered five hits tonight, their fewest since the July 31 contest. As a team, Salt Lake batted .152 (5-for-33), the first time batting below .200 in 23 games (July 31 at Sugar Land).
- Despite scoring first in all four games this week, Salt Lake has only won one of those games (Wednesday). In fact, after winning five straight games when scoring first (Aug. 11, 14, 16, 18, 19), the Bees have lost four of the last five when breaking the ice. This season, Salt Lake is 29-26 overall when scoring first (14-17 on the road).
- Salt Lake starter Ryan Costeiu logged 5.2 innings in his first Triple-A road start, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters. The five strikeouts marked a Triple-A career high for the right-hander and his highest total across any level since an eight-strikeout performance on Aug. 1 with Rocket City. His 98 pitches were also his most in a start since throwing 106 for High-A Tri-City on Sept. 4 of last season.
- Salt Lake’s first baserunner came in the third inning courtesy of an Arol Vera single. After recently being reinstated from the development list, the Venezuelan collected his first hit since August 5 against Oklahoma City. Vera subsequently came around to score his first run since August 2 in Sugar Land.
- Nelson Rada worked a one out walk in his second at-bat. The free pass extended his on-base streak to three games. Rada came around to score his 90th run of the year on a Jeimer Candelario two run single.
- Kyren Paris singled in Salt Lake’s first run with an out in the third inning. The infielder moved his hit and on-base streaks to three games on the knock. Paris then swiped his 15th bag at Triple-A this season, his second straight game with a stolen base. It is the third time he has had back-to-back games with a steal at the level this season, most recently July 25-26 vs. Omaha.
- Jeimer Candelario has five multi-hit efforts over his last six games and hits in 10 of his last 11 games. Candelario drove in two runs with a line-drive single to center in his first at-bat, giving the Bees a 3-2 lead in the third inning. The hit extended his current hitting streak to a season-best seven games and stretched his overall on-base streak to 15 games, putting him just three games away from matching his season high of 18. Additionally, Candelario has now driven in runs in six of his last seven contests.
- Yolmer Sánchez worked a one out walk in his second at-bat of the game. The veteran pushed his on-base streak to four games on the base on balls.
- Pablo Reyes kept his team-leading active hitting streak alive at 10 games with an eighth-inning single with one out, which also extended his on-base streak to 10 contests. The hit broke a tie for the sixth-longest hitting streak on the Bees this year. Additionally, Reyes' 10-game streak matched his Triple-A career high, a feat he previously accomplished twice: with Indianapolis in 2019 and from July 12–23 last season.
- In 1.1 innings pitched, reliever Mitch Farris surrendered three runs, marking his highest total allowed in a game at the Triple-A level. The outing matched his highest run total given up at any level since a July 29 performance with the Angels against Houston.
- Jared Southard twirled his sixth straight scoreless appearance, extending his scoreless streak to 8.1 innings. The righty struck out one and walked one in his inning of work and has now struck out at least one batter in each of his last three games.
Up Next
Salt Lake continues play in the heart of the 253 in the penultimate game of its six-game set against the Rainiers. Game five is set for 8:05 p.m. MDT from Cheney Stadium.