Tacoma deluges ‘Cakes with early runs

METAIRIE – The Tacoma Rainiers scored seven times in the first two innings and ran away with a 10-3 victory over the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Sunday afternoon.

Tacoma scored twice in the first on three singles and a sacrifice fly off New Orleans starter Robert Dugger. They exploded for five in the second on a solo homer by Chris Mariscal and a three-run shot by Joe Odom.

Dugger (2-4) surrendered a third home run, again to Mariscal, with two outs in the fifth and was charged with nine runs on eight hits. Only four were earned, after a passed ball by Wilkin Castillo on a third strike in the second prolonged the inning.

Relievers Tyler Stevens and Dylan Lee each allowed home runs on the first pitches of their outings, both to Connor Hoover. Stevens allowed no other hits in his 2 1/3 innings, as the New Orleans bullpen has a 2.45 ERA in the last 16 games.

The Baby Cakes did not pick up their first hit until a two-out single by Austin Dean in the fourth. Billy Fleming’s sacrifice fly an inning later cashed in Yadiel Rivera’s leadoff single, and Rosell Herrera homered in the eighth to complete a three-hit afternoon and give the ‘Cakes a league-leading 23 dingers through the first 10 games of August.

Tacoma starter Sean Nolin (4-2) earned the win by allowing only two runs (one earned) on six hits in his 6 2/3 innings, striking out four.

New Orleans and Tacoma meet for game three of the four-game set on Monday at 6:30 p.m.