April 22, 2023 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Tacoma, WA – Tacoma designated hitter Mike Ford drilled three home runs to right field on Friday night at Cheney Stadium, including a second inning grand slam, and drove in eight of 10 Rainiers runs in a 10-2 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas (7-12). Tacoma (10-8) is 7-2 at home this season, and leads this weeklong series 3-1. Ford left the facility with a two-run homer in the first and eighth innings, around the slam.
* Ford’s feat was Tacoma’s third three-homer game since July 2 of last season. Brian O’Keefe did so on 7/2/22 at home vs. Salt Lake, before Zach Green went deep thrice two days later at Reno on July 4 (7 RBI).
* It was Ford’s second-career game with (at least) three home runs: He went yard four times on 5/25/14 for Class A Charleston of the South Atlantic League, at Hickory (5 RBI) in a 17-10 win. Charleston hit five total homers in that game; the other was an Aaron Judge solo shot.
* A career-high eight RBI for Ford was most in a game for Tacoma since Green’s seven on 7/4 last season, and second-most for the franchise during the “Rainiers” era and Seattle Mariners affiliation (since 1995). A.J. Zapp drove in nine runs on 8/20/04 at home vs. Fresno.
* Ford now has six homers on the year, tying him with O’Keefe and Jake Scheiner for the club lead. Before Friday’s outburst, Ford hadn’t homered since 4/4 vs. Reno at Cheney Stadium, when he went deep in three straight games from April 1-4 amidst a seven-game hit streak and eight-game RBI streak to open his season. His 26 RBI in only 16 games played now lead the Pacific Coast League, entering Saturday.
* Friday was the third game in four on this homestand where a Rainiers hitter homered at least twice. On Tuesday it was Scheiner, and Jacob Nottingham on Wednesday. Each hit a pair of two-run jacks.
* It was the first grand slam this season for Tacoma; last year’s club hit five, but none until June 8.
* Tacoma’s 26 home runs are 10th-most in Triple-A (fifth in PCL), but 19 of those clouts have come with at least one runner on base. The Rainiers have swatted 11 two-run homers and seven three-run jobs along with Ford’s slam.
Forgive Ford if his heroics overshadowed a sterling quality start from Rainiers right-hander Jose Rodriguez, who worked six complete innings, allowing a lone (earned) run. Rodriguez struck out seven (season-high) while scattering five hits, and did not walk a batter. It was the first time this season…
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