Rainiers, Rattlers Drop Series Openers

The Tacoma Rainiers and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers begin their postseason with road games in Nashville and South Bend.

Rainiers Drop Game One

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tacoma Rainiers were defeated by the Nashville Sounds 8-6 on Tuesday night, falling behind in the Pacific Coast League Chamionship Series 1-0.

Left-hander Bobby Livingston yielded five home runs in five innings, including back-to-back-to-back long balls to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.

Tacoma battled back with three homers of their own, the first by Wiki Gonzalez, whose blast gave the Rainiers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Justin Leone and T.J. Bohn each hit big flies, Leone's a two-run shot in the fifth that tied the score at four.

Livingston allowed six earned runs and right-hander Cha Seung Baek did not fare any better, giving up two earned runs on four hits in his three innings of relief work.

Shin-soo Choo contunued his hot postseason going 3-for-4 with a walk and Aaron Rifkin went 3-for-5.

Bohn and Nunez each went 2-for-4.

Nashville hosts game two Wednesday night before the series comes to Tacoma on Friday. Tacoma's Game two starter has not been announced, but southpaw Damian Moss and right-hander Jesse Foppert are the most likely choices to face the Sounds.

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Wisconsin Falls in South Bend


SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fell to the South Bend Silver Hawks 6-4 in game one of the Midwest League Championship Series on Tuesday night, losing the opening game of a playoff series for the second time this postseason.

Right-hander Mark Lowe struggled through six innings, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs. Lowe struck out seven but served up two long balls in a three-run Silver Hawk second inning.

Wisconsin fought back after falling behind 5-1 by plating two in the fourth, one on a solo shot by Matt Tuiasosopo to lead off the inning. Two innings later, Mike Wilson singled in Brent Johnson to close the gap to 5-4.

But Lowe couldn’t hold South Bend, surrendering a run in the seventh before giving way to Jon Lockwood.

Lockwood allowed just one hit and a walk in his two innings of work, striking out three.

The Silver Hawks bullpen went four shutout innings to secure the victory.

Game two in South Bend is Wednesday pitting Rattlers righty Aaron Jensen versus Silver Hawks right-hander Ross Ohlendorf.

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