May 7 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers at Reno Aces

May 7, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

TACOMA RAINIERS (19-14) @ RENO ACES (15-18)

Tuesday, May 7 – 11:05 AM – Greater Nevada Field – Reno, NV

RHP Casey Lawrence (0-3, 7.31) vs. RHP Chris Ellis (0-2, 7.36)

TODAY’S GAME: Tacoma and Reno are set to play game one of their six-game series today, with both starting pitchers in search of their first wins of the season. Casey Lawrence will take the ball for the Rainiers, entering play today with an 0-3 record and a 7.31 ERA. In his first game against Reno this year, back on April 13, the right-hander allowed five earned runs on nine hits including two home runs and one walk while striking out three over 6.1 innings. On the other side, Chris Ellis will toe the rubber for the Aces, set to make his first start of the year against Tacoma. The righty is 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA in two starts this year for Reno, allowing six earned runs on nine hits including three home runs and three walks while striking out four. Through his two starts with the Aces, opponents are hitting .300 against him.

ROAD WOES: Tacoma will look to turn around their struggles away from Cheney Stadium with their series against Reno this week. The Rainiers have lost their last two road series, going 2-4 against both Las Vegas and Sacramento, their only two series losses of the year. In all, Tacoma is 8-10 on the road while going 11-4 at home this year. Six of those home games came against Reno in which they were 5-1, so they will look to bring back that good play against the Aces here at Greater Nevada Field.

NOT ALWAYS PRETTY: Brett de Geus earned his team-leading third save of the season in Sunday’s win over Sacramento. It wasn’t perfect for de Geus, who allowed a leadoff walk followed by a two-run home run and another walk before recording the final three outs of the game. It marked the second save this year for de Geus in which he allowed two earned runs, doing so in his first save of the year back on March 31 against Oklahoma City. The right-hander holds a 7.71 ERA in seven games for Tacoma this year, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six batters.

IN SEARCH OF ONE: Today’s starter, Casey Lawrence, is still in search of his first win of the season. The 36-year-old comes into play today with an 0-3 record and a 7.31 ERA through his first five starts of the year, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Lawrence has spun two of Tacoma’s seven quality starts as a team, including his most…