Tonight at Cheney Stadium there will be a pregame ceremony to honor this year’s Triple-A West championship season. It should be fun – there’s a trophy and everything – so try to come out to the park early to check it out. This has been a great season, and we are wrapping it up this weekend.
Last night the race for the batting title got even tighter. Jose Marmolejos was 1-for-3 with a walk, dropping his average to .346. Salt Lake’s Michael Stefanic went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, boosting his average to .344. Marmolejos had four plate appearances, and he still needs 12 more over the final three games to qualify – and he’s got to keep his average above Stefanic’s. The only Tacoma player to ever lead the league in hitting was Troy Neel in 1992.
Today is October 1, and we have three games left including tonight’s 7:05 tilt. After some cursory research, I’m confident saying that this will be the first Triple-A game ever played at Cheney Stadium in the month of October. No Tacoma Rainiers playoff run has ever stretched into October, and even back in the early 1960s when the PCL played over 150 games the season still ended in mid-September (they played a lot of scheduled doubleheaders back then).
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Salt Lake hit three solo homers, the Rainiers had nine hits but just two runs, and the Bees upended Tacoma on Thursday night, 3-2. That ended a string of nine straight wins for the Rainiers over Salt Lake. Ryan Weber pitched six innings for the Rainiers, allowing two runs in a no-decision. Brian O’Keefe and Luis Liberato each had two hits.
TODAY: Salt Lake (54-72, 5-2 Triple-A Final Stretch) at Tacoma (76-51, 3-4), 7:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Tacoma leads, 15-11.
PITCHERS: LHP Jack Dashwood (1-2, 9.15) at RHP Darren McCaughan (5-4, 4.64)
HOT HITTERS: Jose Godoy is 24-for-64 (.375) over his last 15 games… Luis Liberato is 19-for-44 over his last 13 games… Jantzen Witte has a four-game hitting streak… the Rainiers are 43-25 when Donovan Walton is in the starting lineup, and 33-26 when he is not.
OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake just went 4-1 in a five-game series against Sacramento… Mitch Walding is saving his injury-riddled season with a late surge, going 20-for-53 with five homers over his last 13 games… Brendon Davis has three homers and nine RBI over his last six games… Bees home run leader Jake Gatewood has missed the last five games with an undisclosed injury.
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.
TRIPLE-A WEST SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to Gameday screens right here.
STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Fangraphs has an article on the Mariners “unsung heroes.”
- If you are looking for all of the Mariners wild card tiebreaking situations, MLB.com is here for you.
- Larry Stone tries to pick the Mariners MVP.
- The Mariners expect large crowds this weekend, despite the threat of Covid-19.
Listen to every home and away Tacoma Rainiers game for free HERE. You can also download the MiLB First Pitch app for a free and easy one-click listening experience at home, work or in your car. Watch an HD video broadcast of every game with an MiLB.TV subscription. Use code: RAINIERS to save $10 on an annual subscription.
About the Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Rainiers are a member of the Triple-A West. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.
Find more information and purchase single game tickets here. Questions regarding season tickets can be directed to Tickets@WeRTacoma.com.
The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found at WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.
March 16, 2023