We’re back in town starting tonight, as the Tacoma Rainiers open a 12-game homestand with a 7:05 game against the visiting Salt Lake Bees. This is the Rainiers longest homestand of the season – one of two 12-gamers, with the other being in mid-July.
The Rainiers are coming off a successful series in Reno, in which the team split six games with the first-place Aces. We don’t often call a split series “successful,” but when it happens in the Rainiers personal House of Horrors at Reno, that’s a big win. It was just the fourth time in 23 all-time trips to Greater Nevada Field that Tacoma did not lose the series.
The Rainiers were down in the Reno series, 3-1, and won the last two games to get the split. The pitching was particularly good in the final two games – holding the Aces to four runs or less in their launching pad of a ballpark is a very good result.
Now the Rainiers will face Salt Lake for the second time this year. The Bees have one of the most confounding resumes in the league.
Salt Lake opened its season by dropping five of six games to Reno. We now know that Reno is quite good, so that’s a tough way to open the season but not totally revealing. Then Salt Lake hosted Tacoma and took four of six games, followed by a road trip to Vegas where they again won the series, 4-2. It appeared all was right with the Bees, and they returned home to face a Round Rock team that had lost five in a row… and the Bees got swept by the Express, 6-0, becoming the first team in our new six-game schedule format to get swept.
So, Salt Lake comes in today on a six-game losing streak and on the wrong side of a historical footnote. The Bees have two highly-ranked outfield prospects for you to watch in Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh. Adell leads the league with a dozen home runs, while Marsh is struggling in his first taste of Triple-A ball.
This should be a fun homestand. In case you missed it, the Rainiers opened up all remaining home games for advance ticket sales, and announced the complete promotional schedule for the season including the so-crazy-it-just-might-work Fourth of July day game. More on that later.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Tacoma was off on Wednesday. On Tuesday the Rainiers won in Reno, 8-4, as Jose Marmolejos homered twice and drove in four runs. Cal Raleigh and Dillon Thomas each had three hits, and starter David Huff delivered four scoreless innings.
TODAY: Salt Lake (9-15) at Tacoma (13-11), 7:05 PT.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 4-2.
PITCHERS: LHP Thomas Pannone (1-2, 6.86) at RHP Ryan Dull (0-0, 5.11)
Dull draws the start on another “bullpen day” for the Rainiers. This will be the second start of his professional career, with the other being a one-inning rehabilitation start in the Arizona Rookie League in 2017.
ROSTER MOVES: A couple of moves were made on Tuesday afternoon prior to the game in Reno: the Mariners called up Taylor Trammell and he promptly homered in the big league game that night. Also, the club designated Travis Blankenhorn for assignment and he was claimed by the New York Mets. Today the Rainiers add infielder Brett Rodriguez from Low-A Modesto to provide some roster depth, and reliever Robert Winslow was transferred back to Modesto.
HOT HITTERS: Cal Raleigh has a 14-game hitting streak, going 27-for-60 during the streak… Raleigh has reached base safely in 18 straight games… Dillon Thomas has hit four homers during a five-game hitting streak… the Rainiers have clubbed 29 home runs over the past 11 games, with 13 different players going deep.
OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake just became the first team to get the worst of it in the new Triple-A West schedule format: the Bees were swept – at home – in a six-game series by the Round Rock Express… outfielder Jo Adell leads the league with 12 home runs… Luis Rengifo and Brennon Lund each have four-game hitting streaks… reliever Tim Peterson was born in Tacoma and graduated from Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup.
BROADCAST: All games will be broadcast free on a live audio stream which is available right here.
Unfortunately, there is no traditional terrestrial radio station carrying the games at this time.
TRIPLE-A WEST SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to Gameday screens right here.
STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis was injured Monday, and it sounds like he’s going to be out for a while according to GM Jerry Dipoto. Also in the story, Dipoto’s thoughts on Jarred Kelenic‘s struggles in the majors.
- Starting pitcher Justin Dunn landed on the injured list with a shoulder problem, though it’s not thought to be serious. As a result, pitcher Robert Dugger was optioned to Tacoma on Tuesday and recalled on Wednesday – he didn’t even get to enjoy our off day.
- The M’s were shut out by Sean Manaea and the A’s last night, and split the four-game series.
- Larry Stone makes a very simple and clear case why the Mariners should not trade Mitch Haniger: he’s their best player.
- Tacoma catcher Cal Raleigh is one of the players featured in a Fangraphs article on less-hyped prospects who could be in the majors soon.
- The Mariners are increasing seating and opening up additional attractions at their ballpark starting June 14.
Listen to every home and away Tacoma Rainiers game for free HERE. You can also download the MiLB First Pitch app for a free and easy one-click listening experience at home, work or in your car. Watch an HD video broadcast of every game with an MiLB.TV subscription. Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.
About the Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Triple-A West. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.
Find more information and purchase single game tickets here. Questions regarding season tickets can be directed to Tickets@WeRTacoma.com.
The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found at WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.
We R Tacoma Team Store
The We R Tacoma Team Store is currently open Monday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (non-game days) or until the end of the game on home game days. Team Store purchases can also be made online 24/7. Grab your Rainiers gear, your Defiance ‘fit, and follow the team store on Instagram and Twitter.
March 16, 2023