Tacoma made it four straight wins with a 5-4 victory in ten innings over Las Vegas last night at Cheney Stadium, matching the team’s longest win streak under new manager John Russell.
Can they keep it going without him?
Russell is leaving the Rainiers for the remainder of the week, in order to attend his son Stone’s high school graduation. Stone Russell attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he plays shortstop and is committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida.
Filling in for Russell for the remainder of the Las Vegas series will be the Mariners Minor League Field Coordinator, Louis Boyd. While Boyd is currently in an oversight position that involves visiting teams throughout the farm system, he previously managed the Everett Aqua Sox for the 2021 season.
Boyd will have some big name help, too. Mariners Hall of Famers Alvin Davis and Dan Wilson have both been in town this week, assisting the Rainiers coaching staff. Both work under the title of “Special Assignment Coordinator,” but they really do help out the minor league teams when they drop in. I’ve seen Wilson work blocking drills with Rainiers catcher before, and he filled in as manager for a series in Reno last year. Davis brings immense positive energy to the field, as one would expect from Mr. Mariner, and he has a world of experience to draw from when speaking with players.
The Rainiers also have a fill-in pitching coach for two games, yesterday and today. Max Weiner, the M’s Pitching Coordinator, is filling in for two games while Jairo Cuevas is away.
Let’s see if this group can get keep this Rainiers win streak going.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Tacoma edged Las Vegas in ten innings, 5-4. The Rainiers tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double be Jake Scheiner. After Las Vegas scored in the top of the tenth, the Rainiers managed two runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to some wildness – three walks, including one with the bases loaded drawn by Kean Wong to tie the game. Cade Marlowe walked it off with a line drive single to center. The Rainiers have won four straight games and pulled within one game of the .500 mark.
TODAY: Las Vegas Aviators (21-26) at Tacoma Rainiers (23-24), 7:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: Tied, 4-4.
PITCHERS: RHP Adam Oller (1-1, 1.80) at LHP Tommy Milone (3-1, 2.70)
ROSTER MOVES: None today – unless you want to count the coaching staff moves detailed above.
HOT HITTERS: Zach DeLoach has an 11-game hitting streak, going 18-for-41 during the stretch… Cooper Hummel saw his seven-game hitting streak end last night… Mike Ford ranks second in the PCL with 48 RBI… Jack Larsen has a four-game hitting streak, and he has drawn six walks over the first two games of the Las Vegas series.
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 20 straight games, and he has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 contests… Jonah Bride is batting .381 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:
- We have a great story on Tacoma’s Mike Ford and his crazy 2022 season on MiLB.com.
- Jeff Passan has an article for ESPN.com on the robot umpire we are using in Triple-A game, and if/when it is coming to the major leagues.
- The M’s beat Oakland again last night, this time riding a dominant performance by rookie Bryce Miller.
- Ty France survived a scary moment in Tuesday’s game.
- Two former Mariners (one a former Rainier!) were tabbed to manage the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
June 1, 2023