June 19 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers vs. Las Vegas Aviators

June 19, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

TACOMA RAINIERS (39-31) vs. LAS VEGAS AVIATORS (36-34)

Wednesday, June 19 – 6:05 PM – Cheney Stadium – Tacoma, WA

RHP Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.17) vs. LHP Jack O’Loughlin (1-2, 5.53)

TONIGHT’S GAME: Tacoma and Las Vegas will meet for game two of their six-game set tonight, with the Aviators leading the series 1-0 after last night’s comeback win. Emerson Hancock will take the ball for the Rainiers, looking to even the series. Hancock is 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in five starts for Tacoma, allowing seven earned runs on 21 hits and 10 walks. He has struck out 26 batters over his 29.0 innings pitched, limiting opponents to just a .193 batting average against him. The former first-round pick will face the Aviators for the second time this season, with the first coming back on May 26. He lost that outing, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five in 5.0 innings. Opposite Hancock will be Jack O’Loughlin toeing the rubber for Las Vegas, set to make his ninth start of the year in his 12th game. The southpaw has gone 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA through his first 11 games, allowing 26 earned runs on 52 hits and 18 walks, striking out 48 batters in 42.1 innings pitched. O’Loughlin will be making his third start against Tacoma this season, having allowed just four earned runs on eight total hits through the first 8.2 innings pitched. Over those two starts, he went 0-1, allowing three home runs and three walks while striking out 12 batters.

OUT OF CONTENTION: Last night’s loss officially eliminated Tacoma from the first-half playoffs in the Pacific Coast League Western Division. Sugar Land won their game, growing their lead over the Rainiers to seven games with five games left in the first half. The Rainiers will still have a chance at making the playoffs, but will have to be the best team in the second half of the season which starts on Tuesday. They currently sit in third place behind just Sugar Land and Sacramento.

SNAPPED: Tacoma had their four-game winning streak snapped with their 8-4 loss last night, dropping the opener to Las Vegas. The Rainiers held an early 4-0 lead but allowed eight unanswered runs in the later innings to lose the game. They had won each of their last four games prior to last night, tying their season long streak for the third time this year.

GETTING ON: Despite going hitless twice, Spencer Packard has reached base in each of his first seven…