The Tacoma Rainiers longest homestand of the season continues with a noon game today against a team that we have not seen in a long time, the Albuquerque Isotopes.
Tacoma faced the Colorado Rockies affiliate in the second series of the season, April 12-17 at Albuquerque. The ‘Topes won that series, four games to two.
Much has changed for the Rainiers since that early-season trip to the Land of Enchantment. Four of the six starting pitchers that Tacoma used in the series are no longer in the Mariners organization, and a fifth one (Nick Margevicius) has been moved to the Rainiers bullpen. Approximately half of the team’s position player roster has turned over since then, as well.
The Isotopes roll into town carrying two players of interest to local fans.
D.J. Peterson, the Seattle Mariners first round pick in 2013, is with Albuquerque. Peterson played for Tacoma from 2015-2017, suiting up in 153 games in a Rainiers uniform. He has not appeared at Cheney Stadium since – his last game at our ballpark was July 24, 2017.
Now 30 years old, Peterson is having a productive season for the Isotopes. He’s batting .279 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI, with an OPS of .894. Surprisingly for a hitter at high-elevation Albuquerque, Peterson has hit 11 of his 14 home runs on the road.
Albuquerque also has Gig Harbor product Michael Toglia on the roster. Toglia, the Colorado Rockies first round draft pick in 2019, was promoted to Triple-A just last week after belting 23 home runs for the Rockies Double-A Hartford affiliate – and he promptly homered in his Albuquerque debut last Tuesday.
Toglia graduated from Gig Harbor High School in 2016. The Colorado Rockies drafted him in the 35th round that year, but he decided to attend college and played at UCLA. Three years later he was draft eligible again, and once again the Rockies selected him – this time in the first round. The cancellation of the 2020 minor league season slowed down his development, as it did for hundreds of players, but now he’s closer to the big leagues than ever before.
I’m sure Toglia will have a section of friends and family at all the games this week, so if you hear some wild cheering because the Albuquerque first baseman got a hit, that’s why.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The Rainiers were off yesterday. On Sunday Tacoma blasted four home runs and beat Las Vegas, 9-1. Drew Ellis homered twice, while Josh Morgan and Evan White each went deep once. Konner Wade tossed six strong innings, allowing one run and earning the win. The Rainiers went 3-4 in the seven-game series against Las Vegas.
TODAY: Albuquerque Isotopes (50-60) at Tacoma Rainiers (50-61), 12:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Colorado Rockies.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Warren Schaeffer
SEASON SERIES: Albuquerque leads, 4-2.
PITCHERS: RHP Ashton Goudeau (0-6, 10.10) at RHP Chris Mazza (2-3, 7.65)
Goudeau is a former Rainiers reliever, appearing in 20 games in 2018.
ROSTER MOVES: The Mariners announced that catcher Luis Torrens has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Tacoma.
HOT HITTERS: Taylor Trammell has reached base in seven straight games… Erick Mejia has an eight-game hitting streak, and he has reached base safely in 13 straight games… Forrest Wall has an eight-game hitting streak… Jonathan Villar has multiple hits in five of the nine games he has played in since joining the team… Marcus Wilson has a five-game hitting streak… Drew Ellis has hit four home runs over his last six games, and 11 of his last 14 hits have gone for extra bases.
OPPONENT NEWS: Albuquerque just split a six-game home series against first place Reno. The Isotopes led the series 3-1 but lost the last two games… the ‘Topes are a season low-water mark of ten games under .500… Albuquerque has four former Rainiers on its roster (D.J. Peterson, Tim Lopes, Ashton Goudeau, and Zach Lee), plus local product Michael Toglia (Gig Harbor High School class of 2016)… Sean Bouchard has reached base in 12 straight games… the Isotopes have hit 11 grand slams this year.
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 News Tribune has its Tacoma Rainiers report, with a longer feature on Mariners catcher Curt Casali.
- The Mariners politely accepted the gift of one baseball win that was presented to them by the Angels last night. On Sunday the M’s lost at Texas, 5-3.
- Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of Felix Hernandez‘s perfect game.
- FiveThirtyEight has an article on the Mariners that tries to project Julio Rodriguez’s career.
- Two Mariners pitching prospects at Double-A Arkansas appear on this week’s edition of the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet – and one holds the No. 1 spot.
- Despite just taking two-of-three from the Mariners, former Tacoma Rainiers shortstop Chris Woodward was fired as manager of the Texas Rangers.
June 7, 2023