With an 11-2, rain-delayed win over Colorado Springs yesterday afternoon, the Tacoma Rainiers won the PCL North championship. It’s an unlikely outcome, given that the Rainiers were 7.5 games out on August 22nd.

The battle for the division came down to a single game between Tacoma and Colorado Springs yesterday. Gaby Hernandez started for the Rainiers, and went six strong innings, allowing just two runs. The Rainiers jumped ahead with three runs in the first, then blew the game open with a seven-run eighth. Chris Shelton, a.k.a. “The Ginger Hammer,” finished the scoring with a RBI single.

Games 1 and 2 of the Rainiers’ best-of-five Pacific Conference Championship Series against Sacramento will be in Tacoma. Game 1 is on Wednesday at 7 p.m., Game 2 is Thursday at 7 p.m. The winner advances to the Pacific Coast Championship.

You can follow the Rainiers on their excellent Twitter feed, @rainiersland.