There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused all kinds of changes in our lives, and that continues to this day. A Covid-19 breakout in the Seattle Mariners major league clubhouse has forced players to sit at home, coaches to quarantine, and most of the broadcast team to stay away from the ballpark.
This has impacted the Tacoma Rainiers, who have thus far been able to avoid any Covid-related issues (it’s OK, I can type that, I’m knocking on wood). Tacoma has sent Donovan Walton, Mike Ford, and Penn Murfee to Seattle to fill in for players the Mariners had to put on the Covid-related injury list.
The Mariners coaching staff has been impacted so much that they summoned Rainiers third base coach Zach Vincej to the big leagues yesterday – he worked as the Mariners first base coach last night, filling in for Kristopher Negron who is now serving as the Mariners interim manager while Scott Servais stays home and gets healthy.
Congratulations are in order for Negron, who guided the Mariners to a victory in his first game as a major league manager. Negron managed the Rainiers to the league championship last season, before being promoted to the big league coaching staff. He can handle the job.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The Rainiers pitching stepped up in a big way, with Daniel Ponce de Leon delivering five strong innings and the bullpen protecting a slim lead for a 4-2 victory over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Wednesday night. Tacoma had just six hits, but it was enough to generate four runs. Erick Mejia was 2-for-3 with a homer, Sam Haggerty had two hits, and so did Mason McCoy.
TODAY: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (4-10) at Tacoma Rainiers (5-9), 7:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Houston Astros.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Mickey Storey.
SEASON SERIES: Tied, 1-1.
PITCHERS: RHP Shawn Dubin (0-0, 0.00) at LHP Ian McKinney (0-1, 14.09)
Dubin is making his first start in an “opener” role, he’s pitched three scoreless innings on the season. McKinney has struggled in his first two starts; we’re rooting for him to get it turned around tonight.
ROSTER MOVES: The Mariners major league Covid outbreak caused additional moves yesterday: reliever Penn Murfee was called up for this first time, and Rainiers third base coach Zach Vincej was summoned to Seattle to be the first base coach. Today the Rainiers are adding two pitchers from extended spring training: RHP Chris Jefferson in a return engagement, and LHP Blake Townsend.
HOT HITTERS: Joe Odom had his four-game hitting streak end last night… Sam Haggerty is 7-for-12 over his last three games… Marcus Wilson is 4-for-9 with two homers and three walks over his last three games… Erick Mejia has reached base in four straight games.
OPPONENT NEWS: Sugar Land has lost five of its last six games. The Space Cowboys opened the season at Sacramento and went 2-4, then they lost five-of-six at home to Round Rock… catcher Korey Lee is considered one of the Houston Astros top prospects… infielder Pedro Leon received a big signing bonus coming out of Cuba and is considered a solid prospect… Sugar Land has no former Rainiers on its roster or coaching staff, and no Washington natives.
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 Seattle Times has all of the known details on the Mariners Covid-19 issues, and information on how long players and coaches are out for.
- The Mariners beat the Rangers last night despite hitting into a triple play.
March 23, 2023