Heineman homer lifts ‘Cakes past Tacoma

METAIRIE – Tyler Heineman’s home run snapped a sixth-inning tie and propelled the New Orleans Baby Cakes to a 5-3 win over the Tacoma Rainiers on Saturday night.

John Andreoli led off the game with a home run off ‘Cakes starter Nick Neidert, and Aaron Knapp delivered an RBI single an inning later to put Tacoma on top, 2-0.

The Baby Cakes jumped in front in the fourth by scoring three times on four hits. Austin Dean followed Eddy Alvarez’s leadoff double with his 16th home run of the campaign to knot the score, and back-to-back doubles by Peter O’Brien and Heineman gave New Orleans a short-lived lead.

Andreoli, who had singled in the third, drew Tacoma even in the top of the fifth with an RBI double to put him a triple shy of the cycle, but the veteran outfielder grounded out in the seventh and struck out in the ninth to fall short.

After Heineman’s 11th home run vaulted the ‘Cakes back into the lead, New Orleans tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when Jesus Sanchez walked and came around to score on a pair of wild pitches. Sanchez also contributed in the field by throwing out two runners at second base, the first ‘Cakes outfielder this season with multiple outfield assists in a game.

Parker Bugg tossed two hitless innings of relief, and Brett Graves converted his fourth save in as many attempts by working around a leadoff single in the ninth to nail down the victory for Neidert (3-2), who scattered nine hits across six innings. The Baby Cakes’ bullpen has pitched to a 2.31 ERA over the last 15 contests.

Aaron Northcraft (0-2) was handed the defeat for the Rainiers, who have dropped all four games on their road trip and 16 of their last 20 overall.

The teams continue the four-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.