NewsRainiers clinch division in final game
Tacoma supports Hernandez with seven-run eighth
By Danny Wild / MLB.com
09/07/09 10:30 PM ET
Tacoma is headed to the postseason, although it was only a few weeks ago that the team seemed destined for an early winter."You play 143 games, and it comes down to the last one," Rainiers manager Daren Brown said. "I've never been a part of something like that."
A grueling regular season came to a satisfying end for Brown on Monday as Gaby Hernandez took advantage of early run support, pitching six strong innings in Tacoma's 11-2 victory over Colorado Springs to win the Pacific Coast League's Pacific North Division title.
The season came down to a four-game series for both teams -- Tacoma needed three victories in order to reach the playoffs. Monday's game became a must-win scenario for both dugouts.
"We knew coming in we needed to take three of four, and that's not an easy thing to do," said Brown. "We took the first two, got beat yesterday and were able to get a big win today. There was a lot of celebrations on the field and in the clubhouse. Three weeks ago, the playoffs looked like a long way away."
The Rainiers (74-70) advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2005 and will face the Sacramento River Cats in the first round Wednesday.
"To use the old Yogi Berra line, it ain't over 'til it's over, and we tell the guys that," said Brown. "It's been a direct reflection of our season."
Tacoma needed more than Yogisms to claw back into the playoff race, and Brown managed to rally a team that, like many Triple-A clubs, has been ravaged by transactions, injuries and late-season promotions.
"Three weeks ago we were 7 1/2 games back, and we won nine in a row on the road," said Brown. "Colorado Springs hit a bump in the road, and at this level, it happens."
It's a painful loss for the Sky Sox (73-69), who began the day in first place, but will miss the playoffs for the 12th straight year.
Brad Nelson's two-run double capped an early outburst as Tacoma handed Hernandez a 3-0 cushion in the first inning. Mike Wilson's sacrifice fly in the sixth gave the Rainiers a 4-2 lead, but the nail-biting ended when Tacoma erupted for seven runs in the eighth, essentially sealing the division crown.
"The final score wasn't even close to what kind of game it was," said Brown. "We know what kind of club they had, they've been a good offensive club all year."
Prentice Redman and Adam Moore drove in two runs apiece and Chris Shelton, Bryan LaHair, Wilson and Matt Tuiasosopo each added an RBI for the Rainiers, who lost to Nashville in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series in their last trip to the playoffs.
Hernandez earned his 10th win, striking out eight while holding the Sky Sox to a pair of runs -- one earned -- on three hits and three walks. The right-hander is 7-0 in his last eight starts after struggling through June and July, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four games.
"He's been able to throw his fastball where he wants to, he's thrown his breaking balls for strikes and he had a really good whole month of August," Brown said of Hernandez. "He got his 10th win today, a big one for him and the club."
Tacoma struggled through June, going 9-19 in the month, but got hot in August, winning 20 of 31 games to climb over .500.
"We made up some ground, and we knew we had these guys for the last four games," said Brown. "We got close enough to make it and take care of it ourselves."
LaHair and Redman have led the way in the past two weeks with 10 RBIs apiece in their last 10 games. Oswaldo Navarro leads the lineup with 16 hits in his last 11 starts.
"We've had some other guys step in, and whenever we lost someone, we had somebody pick up the slack," said Brown. "At this level, you go through a transition. After June and July, we kind of came back. August we had a good month, and it's been a different cast of characters the whole time."
Colorado Springs ran out a new face themselves Monday -- starter Sam Deduno, who was called up to make his Triple-A debut. He was charged with four runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Deduno opened eyes in the Rockies system after going 12-4 with a 2.57 ERA in 24 starts for Double-A Tulsa this season.
"We'd never seen him, but we knew he had a few walks, so command might be an issue," said Brown. "He walked a few guys in the first inning, but he did a nice job against us. We didn't do a whole lot."
Tacoma will host Sacramento for Game 1 of the semifinals on Sept. 9, a best-of-5 series, with the winner advancing to play either the Memphis Redbirds or the Albuquerque Isotopes. The River Cats, who clinched on Aug. 27, have won four Pacific Coast League titles in the past six years.
"We know they've got guys have been here before, our guys haven't been in this situation before," said Brown. "But I liked the way we've played the last month-and-a-half.
"We never gave up, we kept battling," Brown added. "And we got it done."
Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
