Wall Ball: Rainiers Beat Dodgers 4-3 Through Forrest

September 10, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Tacoma Rainiers News Release

Tacoma Rainiers’ Forrest Wall in action
(Tacoma Rainiers, Credit: Jeff Halstead)

Oklahoma City, OK – Right fielder Forrest Wall had a pair of two-out RBI base hits on Saturday night, as the Tacoma Rainiers (64-70) improved to 4-1 on this 12-game road trip with a 4-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (74-60). Heading into the final meeting of 2022 between the clubs on Sunday, Tacoma is 7-4 this season against the team that has led the PCL East Division for most of the year.

Rainiers left fielder Kyle Lewis extended his on base streak to 12 games with a 408-foot, opposite field homer with two out in the first inning. Oklahoma City tied it 1-1 in the home first on a walk and two singles, the second of which was for an RBI by Edwin Rios.

Still square in the fifth, Tacoma tacked on two. Erick Mejia led off with a single, stole second base, got to third on a groundout and scored on a Luis Torrens groundout. With two down, Drew Ellis ripped a double to left, and a batter later Wall came up with a big run-scoring single. Wall also stole his 41st base of the season during Saturday’s win; as the seventh player in franchise history to steal 40 or more bags in a season, he’s also achieved the fourth-highest total in Tacoma’s Triple-A history, with 16 games remaining. Mejia, Ellis and Wall each ended the night with two hits apiece.

Dodgers top prospect/RHP Ryan Pepiot pitched five innings: 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, and the Rainiers became the first club to deal him a losing decision in PCL action this season (8-1). Tacoma lefty Austin Warner (5-2) worked a quality start: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K. The lone run against Warner was earned as the Rainiers improved to 7-3 in his starts.

OKC tightened things up in the seventh; a two-out Michael Busch RBI liner trimmed Tacoma’s lead to two runs. It was 4-3 in the eighth after Jason Martin drove in his PCL-leading 103rd run with a one-out knock. But that would conclude the evening’s offense, as left-hander Nick Ramirez retired Oklahoma City in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing his 12th save.

The series finale on Sunday afternoon will begin with a 12:05 PT/2:05 CT first pitch at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. RHP Darren McCaughan will make his club-high 26th start for Tacoma, opposite OKC RHP Andre Jackson.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2022 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard…