It’s the day we have all been waiting for: the gates of Cheney Stadium are opening up, and we are welcoming Tacoma Rainiers baseball back to the Pacific Northwest.
The home opener is tonight at 6:05. It’s game No. 1 of 75 to be played at our beautiful ballpark this season, all the way through September 24. Tacoma will host the Reno Aces for the first six. We’ll play a night game each of the first five days, and wrap up with a Sunday day game at 1:35.
If the opening road series was any indication, this year’s Tacoma Rainiers squad is going to be entertaining. The team played high-scoring games, getting a ton of baserunners, and two of the three games were one-run decisions. The fact that both of those one-run decisions were walk-off loses is a little discouraging, but it’s early. A 1-2 road trip isn’t any reason to panic, and the team played exciting baseball.
The weather is supposed to be dry tonight – OK, my phone says there is a 2% chance of rain, we’ll take our chances on that – but it’s gonna be cold. Bundle up, move around to stay warm, and come cheer on this year’s squad. There will be tickets at the gate for anyone who makes a game-time decision on attending.
Sheesh, I almost forgot: stick around for the postgame fireworks show!
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The team was off yesterday. On Sunday, Tacoma blew a 9-5 lead in the eighth inning before getting walked off in the ninth on a two-out homer by Jahmai Jones of Oklahoma City, 10-9. It was the second straight game-winning hit for Jones, and the Rainiers went 1-2 in the series as a result. Brian O’Keefe was 4-for-4 with a double, two homers, and five RBI. Mike Ford had two hits including a long two-run homer, and Jose Caballero was 3-for-3 with two walks and a homer.
TODAY: Reno Aces (2-1) at Tacoma Rainiers (1-2), 6:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Arizona Diamondbacks.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Blake Lalli.
SEASON SERIES: 0-0.
PITCHERS: RHP Peter Solomon (0-0, 0.00) at LHP Tommy Milone (0-0, 0.00)
The veteran Milone draws the assignment in the home opener. In two previous stints with the Rainiers, Milone has gone 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA over 20 appearances (18 starts). Solomon is new to the Diamondbacks organization after spending his career in the Astros system.
ROSTER MOVES: Freshly signed infielder Cesar Hernandez reports today and is added to the active roster.
HOT HITTERS: Mason McCoy has opened the season with three straight multiple-hit games… Mike Ford has hit safely in all three games, homering in the last two… Jose Caballero has reached base in 11 of his 12 plate appearances, for a .917 OBP… Delino DeShields has hit safely in all three games… as a team, Tacoma hit .359 with a .486 OBP and scored 28 runs in the three games at Oklahoma City.
OPPONENT NEWS: The defending PCL Champions opened the season by taking two-of-three from rival Las Vegas in a high-scoring home series… Blake Lalli returns as Reno manager after stepping away last year to work in player development… Diego Castillo went 5-for-5 on opening day Friday… Buddy Kennedy has homered in two straight games… starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt is the highest-rated prospect on the Reno roster… reliever Anthony Misiewicz and infielder Jake Hager are the former Rainiers on the Reno roster.
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:
- After winning on opening day, the Mariners have lost four in a row.
- We have thoughts from the Mariners opening series from both of the Seattle Times sports columnists, Matt Calkins and Larry Stone.
- Interesting, quick look at the M’s video replay review process.
- The News Tribune has a round-up of the Mariners opening weekend.
June 1, 2023