WP: Pauley (3-0)

LP: Palmer (6-7)

S: LaFromboise (1)

Time: 3:01

Attn: 6,327

The Tacoma Rainiers scored four early runs and the Tucson Padres could not catch up Wednesday, losing 4-3 at Cheney Stadium. The Padres entered the seventh inning down by four runs when Jesus Merchan hit a three-run home run inside the left field pole to get the Padres within one. Later in the inning, with runners at second and third and two outs, Robert Kral tried to score from third on a pitch to the backstop and was thrown out on a close play. Both Kral and manager Terry Kennedy argued the call.

Tacoma scored twice in the first inning on an RBI single by Nick Franklin and an RBI groundout by Luis Jimenez. Brandon Bantz' sacrifice fly in the second inning put the Rainiers up by three. The Rainiers added their final run in the fifth on a two-out, RBI single by Jimenez.

The Padres won last night's game by the same 4-3 score. Tucson starter Matt Palmer suffered the loss Wednesday, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing four earned runs. Brad Boxberger struck out all four hitters he saw and Miles Mikolas pitched a scoreless inning out of the Tucson bullpen.

Box Score

Next Game: Thursday, 7:05 pm in Tacoma - Tucson LHP Colt Hynes (4-8, 6.58) vs. RHP D.J. Mitchell (0-0, -.--). Game coverage begins at 6:50 pm on Tejano 1600 AM.

Next Home Game: Saturday, 7:05 pm in Tucson - Post-game fireworks spectacular and Mexican Baseball League mascot appearances.