Rockets sweep Royals

A stroke of thunder put an end to the Rockets’ home opener May 26.

Sunday had thunder of a different kind.

Zach Tanner hit a three-run home run to tie the score in the first game and the Portland Rockets rode his blast to a doubleheader sweep of the Whitko Royals at Portland Memorial Park’s Runkle-Miller Field.

Portland (2-1), which hosts the Grand Lake Mariners at 7 p.m. Wednesday, rallied to win the first game 5-3 before a 14-4, six-inning rout in game two.

The Rockets trailed 3-0 in the third inning before Tanner hit a game-tying homer, his first of the season, to right field. Dustin Lewis and Justin Greene later had RBI singles for the decisive runs.

Whitko threatened in the top of the seventh inning with two runners in scoring position, but the Rockets got a game-ending double play.

Garrett Scott got the win. He struck out five, walked two and allowed four hits in four innings. Derek Thobe got the save, allowing one hit over three innings with a pair of strikeouts.

Portland led 5-0 after two innings in game two and cruised to the doubleheader sweep.

Tanner was 4-for-5 in game two and finished 5-for-8 with eight RBIs on the day. Cody Krumlauf tallied five hits and an RBI, while Dustin Lewis had two hits and an RBI. 

Chase Ruiz contributed two hits and three RBIs, while 2016 Jay County graduate Chandler Jacks tallied two hits and an RBI.