When it was announced that Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis would be joining the Rainiers on a rehabilitation assignment starting this week in Salt Lake City, my initial reaction was to get excited. But then another thought crossed my mind: he’ll be all done and back in the big leagues before the road trip ends, and thus never play at Cheney Stadium.
Now it’s starting to sound like he may play in Tacoma next week. Here’s Mariners reporter Shannon Drayer earlier this morning:
Jerry Dipoto on his weekly show on @SeattleSports indicated that they will use the majority of the 20 day rehab assignment allotment to best replicate spring training for Kyle Lewis. He anticipates having him back with the Mariners in 2 1/2 to 3 weeks.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 5, 2022
That would cover the upcoming homestand against Reno, and could carry into the following road trip to Sacramento.
Hopefully at least the first part happens, and Rainiers/Mariners fans will get to see Lewis in the friendly confines of Cheney Stadium next week.
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In yesterday’s post I wrote that the Bees were probably pretty bitter about how they lost the series opener on Tuesday night, in which the Rainiers loaded the bases after there were two outs on a misplayed pop-up and a pitch clock violation walk before connecting on the game-winning hit.
I suspect the Rainiers weren’t exactly feeling chipper after last night’s loss, when the team rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning only to allow the winning run to score in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back errors.
Either way, we’ve had two pretty thrilling games to start this series, and each team has emerged with a win.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The Rainiers lost a pitcher’s duel in Salt Lake on Wednesday night, 3-2. Darren McCaughan started and allowed just two runs over six innings – results that will usually get you a win in Salt Lake City. But Tacoma managed just one run over the first six innings against Bees starter Jake Kalish. Two walks and a Zach Green sac fly led to a Tacoma run in the top of the ninth to tie the game, but then two Tacoma errors in the bottom of the ninth gave the victory to Salt Lake.
TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (8-18) at Salt Lake Bees (13-13), 5:35 (Pacific).
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 5-3.
PITCHERS: RHP Konner Wade (0-0, 0.00) at RHP Cesar Valdez (3-1, 3.71)
Both team’s scheduled starter was scratched (Nick Margevicius and Jhonathan Diaz), for very different reasons.
ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday the Rainiers activated reliever Kyle Bird from the injured list, and the Mariners signed veteran left Fernando Abad and assigned him to Tacoma. Abad, a 17-year pro with 400 games of major league bullpen experience, had been pitching for Saltillo in the Mexican League. Lots of action today: the Mariners optioned Matt Brash to Tacoma, placed Matt Festa on the IL, designated Nick Margevicius for assignment, and called up relievers Danny Young and Riley O’Brien. Reliever Matt Koch cleared waivers and was outrighted to Tacoma.
HOT HITTERS: Sam Haggerty is 12-for-29 on the road trip… Mason McCoy has reached base in ten straight games, hitting safely in nine of them… Zach Green saw his eight-game hitting streak end last night… Michael Wilson has hit safely in four straight games, going 5-for-15 with two homers… Cal Raleigh has three consecutive two-hit games.
OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake just split an unusual home/road series against Round Rock, in which the Bees went 1-2 at Round Rock and then both teams flew to Salt Lake City where the Bees won two of three… the Angels have been carrying a major league taxi squad made up of a couple of Bees players, so sometimes players appear on the Salt Lake roster but aren’t actually with the team. Currently the taxi squad includes Luis Rengifo and Matt Thaiss… former Rainiers outfielder Dillon Thomas has reached base safely in 12 straight games… three former Rainiers are in the Salt Lake bullpen: Brian Moran, Jonathan Aro, and Zack Weiss.
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 got swept in Houston and are considering changes to the pitching staff, Ryan Divish reports. But the problem in Houston was that they couldn’t score.
- Stuart Fairchild will be living his dream today when he takes the field in Seattle wearing his hometown uniform.
March 16, 2023