The Tacoma Rainiers were rolling along with a four-game winning streak, until a snowman showed up and wiped it out.
Thursday’s game was tied 4-4 after five innings, and we could tell that it was going to be a high-scoring game because the baseball was flying out of the balllpark. We saw five home runs in the first five innings, as seemingly anything hit in the air had a chance to get out.
I thought we were going to have a thrilling last four innings, but then that snowman made its appearance.
Las Vegas hung an 8 on the board in the top of the sixth inning, scoring eight runs in a span of just eight batters. There were a bunch of singles, a couple walks, and then after five runs were in Conner Capel capped the rally with a three-run homer.
It’s hard to recover from an eight-run inning. I know, that’s the kind of baseball insight you come here for. The Rainiers went on to lose 14-6.
The four-game win streak was Tacoma’s third of that length this season, and the team has not yet had a five-gamer. The attempt to start a new winning streak begins tonight.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Las Vegas used an eight-run sixth inning to pull away from Tacoma and win 14-6 last night, ending the Rainiers four-game winning streak. Tacoma’s Jake Scheiner and Mike Ford each homered, Mason McCoy had two hits, and Zach DeLoach extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
TODAY: Las Vegas Aviators (22-26) at Tacoma Rainiers (23-25), 7:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: Las Vegas leads, 5-4.
PITCHERS: RHP Zach Neal (1-0, 4.41) at RHP Konner Wade (0-1, 6.83)
ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday catcher Jacob Nottingham was sent to the San Francisco Giants organization, where he is reporting to Sacramento (who will be in town next week). Tacoma activated infielder Pat Valaika from the Development List.
HOT HITTERS: Zach DeLoach has a 12-game hitting streak, going 19-for-44 during the stretch… Mike Ford has a four-game hitting streak, and he ranks second in the PCL with 49 RBI… Jack Larsen has a five-game hitting streak, and he has drawn seven walks over the first three games of the Las Vegas series… Jake Scheiner has a four-game hitting streak.
OPPONENT NEWS: Las Vegas is on a 12-game road trip; they just lost four of six at Salt Lake… the Aviators had a 22-run uprising in game two of the Salt Lake series… the Aviators have some hot hitters: Trenton Brooks has reached base in 21 straight games, and he has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 contests… Jonah Bride is batting .377 in May… the only former Rainiers player on the Las Vegas roster is pitcher Joe Wieland, who went 14-6 as a starter for Tacoma in 2016.
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.
PCL SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to broadcasts and Gameday screens right here.
Links:
- The Mariners completed a four-game sweep of the lowly A’s, as Logan Gilbert pitched a gem.
- Sam Haggerty has seen his playing time dwindle.
- And the first PCL team with a home run celebration prop is… the Albuquerque Isotopes.
June 1, 2023