June 23 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers vs. Las Vegas Aviators

June 23, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

TACOMA RAINIERS (43-31) vs. LAS VEGAS AVIATORS (36-38)

Sunday, June 23 – 1:35 PM – Cheney Stadium – Tacoma, WA

RHP Casey Lawrence (4-5, 4.94) vs. RHP Brandon Bielak (0-1, 7.16)

TODAY’S GAME: Tacoma and Las Vegas will play both the series and season finale between the two teams this afternoon. It will be a pitching rematch of Tuesday’s series opener, as Casey Lawrence will take the ball for the Rainiers. Lawrence is set to make his second start of the series and 14th of the season, entering play tonight with a 4-5 record and a 4.94 ERA. He has allowed 43 earned runs on 92 hits and 20 walks, striking out 55 batters over 78.1 innings pitched. In game one of the series on Tuesday, the 36-year-old allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking six over 6.0 innings. Opposite Lawrence will be Brandon Bielak getting the nod for the Aviators. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.16 ERA through four starts with Las Vegas this season, allowing 13 earned runs on 17 hits and nine walks. He has struck out 10 batters in 16.1 innings, as opponents are hitting .266 against him. On Tuesday, Bielak allowed four earned runs on five hits (two home runs) on two walks and three strikeouts over 4.0 innings.

NOT ALWAYS PRETTY: Brett de Geus secured his seventh save of the season last night, good for third among qualified pitchers in the Pacific Coast League. It hasn’t always been pretty for the right-hander, as has allowed runs in five of his nine save opportunities this season. Last night, he entered the ninth with a three-run lead and allowed a two-run blast, making it a one-run contest. He recorded the final outs to complete the save, but the earned runs bumped his ERA to 4.79 on the year. Last night marked the third time this year in which de Geus has allowed two earned runs and managed to record a save.

GOING DEEP: Tacoma has not been known for their power this season, ranking sixth in the Pacific Coast League with their 81 home runs as a team entering play today. Last night’s win was a different story, however, as three of their five this left the yard. They got a solo home run from Samad Taylor, his sixth of the year. Jason Vosler hit his team-leading 15th home run of the season, also a solo shot. The third home run was the biggest, a three-run shot from Major League rehabber, Jorge Polanco. For Polanco, it was his third in the last two games, as he hit one from each side of the…