Trailing by five runs in ninth? No problem

MIKE CURTO; For The News Tribune MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It must be something in the dank, humid Tennessee air. For the second consecutive game, Tacoma put together a big ninth-inning rally when down by multiple runs. The Rainiers – powered by Michael Saunders’ three-run home run – scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to pull out an 8-7 victory over the Memphis Redbirds on Saturday at AutoZone Park. The Rainiers entered the ninth inning trailing 6-1 – and facing the Pacific Coast League’s top pitching staff. The rally came one day after the Rainiers scored four in the top of the ninth inning to tie Nashville, 8-8. The Rainiers eventually won that game in 12 innings. “Tonight we needed five (runs) and we came up with seven,” Rainiers manager Daren Brown said. “We were a little flat for the first six or seven innings, but we came... [read full story]