Rainiers' early lead holds up versus 51s - TheNewsTribune.com

LAS VEGAS â€" Not a bad way to start a long trip.

The Tacama Rainiers wasted no time gaining steam on their 12-day, 11-game odyssey by scoring five runs in the first inning Thursday night on their way to a 6-4 victory over the Las Vegas 51s at Cashman Field.

“It’s a good way to start it, putting up that five spot in the first,” said Tacoma manger Daren Brown, whose squad improved to 9-12 as it began its longest trip of the season â€" a 3,000-mile-plus jaunt with other stops in Tucson and Reno.

Second baseman Leury Bonilla had the key hit in the first, a sharp single to right that scored Guillermo Quiroz and Chih-Hsien Chiang to help Tacoma build the 5-0 advantage.

Las Vegas first baseman David Cooper, the leading hitter in the Pacific Coast League last year, accounted for the 51s’ first run with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the second, and added an RBI single in the third. Adeiny Hechavarria added aother RBI single that chopped the score to 5-3.

Bonilla, who entered the game with just five at-bats, launched a triple over speedy center fielder Anthony Gose’s head in the top of the fifth to bring in Scott Savastano for Tacoma’s final run.

“I haven’t had a lot of time, but I was excited to get out there tonight. I always try to play hard and help my team when I get in there,” said Bonilla, who tried to score moments later on a wild pitch, but Toronto’s top prospect, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, made a diving tag on him at the plate.

In the bottom of the fifth, Las Vegas’ Moises Sierra singled in Hechavarria after another double by Cooper. But with just one out and the bases loaded, Tacoma reliever Sean Henn got out of the jam with a pop out and strikeout.

SHORT HOPS

Tacoma designated hitter Luis Jimenez, who had a .417 average, five home runs and 16 RBI in eight games against the 51s in 2011, was 0-for-3 Thursday, with an RBI and two walks. He also left five runners on base. … Las Vegas outfielder Travis Snider, who leads the PCL with 23 RBI and is third with a .405 average, had his 18-game hitting streak snapped. The first-round pick for Toronto in the 2006 draft drilled a hard shot in the first to right, but Chiang made a diving catch to rob him of a hit.

ON TAP

Tacoma plays at Las Vegas at 7:05 p.m. today in a game broadcast on 850-AM. Tacoma will start right-hander Jeff Marquez (1-1, 7.11 ERA) against Las Vegas right-hander Jesse Chavez (2-1, 3.32).