Tacoma won again at Sacramento on Friday night, 4-2, with the team’s bullpen providing 3.1 shutout innings of work. Roenis Elias, Fernando Abad, and Drew Steckenrider closed out the game while protecting a two-run lead.
This continued an outstanding stretch of relief pitching for the Rainiers. Over the last six games – of which the Rainiers have won five – the Tacoma bullpen has posted a 0.72 ERA, allowing just two runs in 25 innings pitched.
The bullpen’s excellence goes back further than that, all the way to the all-star break. Tacoma relievers have a 1.67 ERA since coming out of the break, allowing 11 runs in 59.2 innings pitched over 13 games. The Rainiers have gone 8-5 since the break.
Success out of the ‘pen has continued despite personnel changes during this time. Two of the team’s hottest relievers are no longer with the organization (Anthony Misiewicz and Danny Young), and Brennan Bernardino has come and gone to the major leagues twice. New guys Taylor Williams and Phillips Valdez have stepped right in and posted zeroes.
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The win last night gives Tacoma a 3-1 lead over Sacramento in the six-game series, and the team has two shots to win one more game and secure a series win. The Rainiers are coming off a 4-2 series win over El Paso on the last homestand, making this is an opportunity to win back-to-back series for the first time this season.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The Rainiers won for their fifth time in the last six games, defeating Sacramento 4-2 on Friday night. Erick Mejia‘s RBI single in the sixth inning was booted by left fielder Austin Dean, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score. Darren McCaughan went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs and earning the win.
TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (46-56) at Sacramento River Cats (43-60), 6:35.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: San Francisco Giants.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Dave Brundage.
SEASON SERIES: Tacoma leads, 10-6.
PITCHERS: LHP Austin Warner (2-2, 5.28) at RHP Luis Ortiz (0-3, 6.10)
This is a bullpen game for the River Cats.
ROSTER MOVES: Reliever Brennan Bernardino was summoned to Seattle to be the 27th man for the Mariners doubleheader today… the Atlanta Braves claimed reliever Danny Young off waivers… yesterday the Mariners claimed outfielder Derek Hill off waivers from the Detroit Tigers, and optioned him to Tacoma. To make room for Hill on the 40-man roster, Rainiers infielder Kevin Padlo was designated for assignment.
HOT HITTERS: Taylor Trammell is 4-for-13 with a homer during the first four games of his rehabilitation assignment… Erick Mejia is 6-for-13 with a homer during the Sacramento series.
OPPONENT NEWS: The River Cats completed a nine-game road trip on Sunday, going 0-3 at Oklahoma City and then 2-4 at Round Rock… they have lost 12 of the last 15 games overall… catcher Andrew Knapp signed with Sacramento after the Mariners designated him for assignment, and he homered in four straight games coming into the series, winning the PCL Player of the Week award… former Rainiers and Mariners infielder Donovan Walton is on the Sacramento roster, but he has not played since the all-star break.
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 had a big rally in the ninth inning last night, only to lose to the Angels in the tenth.
- New Mariner Jake Lamb is excited to play for his hometown team.
May 28, 2023