June 12 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers at Round Rock Express

June 12, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

TACOMA RAINIERS (35-29) @ ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (32-31)

Wednesday, June 12 – 5:15 PM PT – Dell Diamond – Round Rock, TX

RHP Casey Lawrence (4-4, 4.79) vs. RHP Jack Leiter (1-3, 4.63)

TONIGHT’S GAME: Tacoma and Round Rock are set to play game two of their six-game series, with the Rainiers currently leading 1-0. Casey Lawrence will take the ball for Tacoma, set to make his 12th start of the year. The right-hander is 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA entering play tonight, having allowed 36 earned runs on 78 hits and 17 walks over 67.2 innings. Over that time, he has struck out 44 batters, allowing opponents to hit .284 against him. Opposite Lawrence will be Jack Leiter taking the ball for the Express, pitching in his ninth game and eighth start. Leiter is 1-3 with a 4.63 ERA through those eight games, allowing 18 earned runs on 28 hits and 17 walks. He has fanned 47 batters in his 35.0 innings pitched, limiting opponents to just a .214 batting average against him.

CALLED UP: Outfielder Spencer Packard and right-handed pitcher Jason Ruffcorn made their Triple-A debuts last night in Round Rock. The two didn’t take any time to adjust to the new level, looking right at home and helping Tacoma win the opener. Packard went 2-for-5 at the plate with two singles, scoring the tying run in the top of the fourth inning. Ruffcorn was called in for relief in the bottom of the sixth and spun two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit. The righty struck out a batter, earning his first Triple-A win to move to 1-0 on the year.

EIGHTH INNING RALLY: Trailing Round Rock 4-3 going into the top of the eighth, Tacoma rallied to come back and score five runs. Each batter made an appearance at the plate, with three hits, two walks, and an error by the Express. Aggressive on the base paths, the Rainiers took every chance they had to advance and score. Two balks by Yerry Rodriguez advanced Tacoma runners to second, which ended up working in their favor as both runners scored. Tacoma’s pitching held off the Express to preserve the 8-4 lead and win the game. The late-inning comeback marked the first time Tacoma has won a game this year when trailing after seven innings, moving to 1-21 in that category.

TURNING IT AROUND: Isiah Gilliam has struggled in his limited playing time this year, hitting .227 in 32 games for Tacoma. Prior to Saturday, June 8, he was hitting just .195 (16-for-82) with six doubles, two home runs,…