July 2 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers vs. Salt Lake Bees

July 2, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

TACOMA RAINIERS (46-36) vs. SALT LAKE BEES (35-46)

Tuesday, July 2 – 7:05 PM – Cheney Stadium – Tacoma, WA

LHP Rob Kaminsky (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Brett Kerry (3-2, 5.54)

TONIGHT’S GAME: Following the Rainiers’ 7-3 victory last night, Tacoma and Salt Lake resume their series tonight for game two of three at Cheney Stadium (the series shifts to Salt Lake’s Smith’s Ballpark for the final three games). Tonight, the Bees look to bounce back with Brett Kerry (3-2, 5.54) getting the start. Kerry previously faced Tacoma on May 16th, allowing two runs over seven innings in a 14-2 Salt Lake victory on the road. Meanwhile, the Rainiers will counter with southpaw Rob Kaminsky (0-0, 0.00). Kaminsky has pitched just twice (one start) for Tacoma this season, recording five shutout frames. He has faced the Bees just once, pitching a scoreless inning on May 7th of last season at Salt Lake.

CLEAN D: Last night was the Rainiers’ sixth-consecutive game without an error, tying their longest stretch of the season (June 7-June 13). On the year, Tacoma ranks second in the PCL in fielding percentage (.983, percentage points behind El Paso, also at .983), errors committed (51, one behind El Paso with 50), and double plays turned (81, one behind Sugar Land with 82). Moreover, the Rainiers are 14-8 at home when not committing an error, compared to 11-12 on the road.

TOUCHED UP: Last night, Rainiers’ reliever Carlos Vargas surrendered two runs in an inning of work, tied for the most runs he’s allowed in a game this season (May 10th at Reno). In his seven appearances prior, Vargas was lights-out, working 6.2 scoreless innings, striking out seven with a 0.75 WHIP. On the year, Vargas has only allowed runs in consecutive outings twice, a major reason the righty flamethrower owns a 2.86 ERA on the year.

MONSTER SHOT: In the fourth inning of last night’s ballgame, Rainiers’ infielder Jake Slaughter belted a homer 452 feet over the Green Monster in center, the longest homer of his professional career. Standing at 29 feet high and located 425 feet from home plate, not many can claim to have cleared Cheney’s center field wall. Although various hitters (ranging from well-known slugger Jose Canseco to local product Austin Shenton) have cleared the wall in batting practice, there have only been two confirmed instances of in-game homers to center, with A.J. Zapp (2004) and Shin-Soo Choo (2005) completing the feat (legend…