Sunday means it’s time for another Week In Review, as seen through the pages of this blog.
We started things off on Tuesday with a post about a player who was not here, Fernando Tatis Jr.
The opening game of the series was a Rainiers victory, although the game was marred by 25 walks.
Tacoma catchers Jacob Nottingham and Brian O’Keefe powered the Rainiers to victory in the second game.
The Rainiers lost game three, and game four featured an interesting pitcher on the hill for El Paso.
We get to wrap things up with a look at Mike Ford’s three homer, eight RBI game on Friday night.
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Tacoma has clinched a series win over El Paso before we even play the final game today. Monday is an off day, and our next blog post will come Tuesday afternoon in advance of the opening game of the 12-game road trip. We start with six games at Las Vegas, and then six games at Salt Lake.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Tacoma edged El Paso in a pitcher’s duel, 2-1. Darren McCaughan pitched six innings and allowed one run, striking out 10, but left the game trailing 1-0 because El Paso’s Matt Waldron pitched six shutout frames. Tacoma loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth for Mike Ford, and he pulled a two-run single to right field for the game-winning hit. Riley O’Brien earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief, and Matt Festa pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second save.
TODAY: El Paso Chihuahuas (7-13) at Tacoma Rainiers (11-8), 1:35.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: San Diego Padres.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Phillip Wellman.
SEASON SERIES: Tacoma leads, 4-1.
PITCHERS: RHP Pedro Avila (1-2, 13.50) at RHP Easton McGee (2-0, 3.22)
We had this same pitching match-up in the first game of the series on Tuesday, which Tacoma won 11-7.
ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday the Mariners optioned Cooper Hummel to Tacoma, and the Rainiers made room for him on the roster by transferring pitcher Fred Villarreal to extended spring training.
HOT HITTERS: Mike Ford had ten RBI over the past two games… Zach DeLoach has reached base safely in 15 of his 16 games played… Cesar Hernandez has reached base safely in 15 of his 16 games, and in this series he is 3-for-10 with nine walks… Taylor Trammell has a four-game hitting streak… Brian O’Keefe is sitting on 99 career minor league home runs.
OPPONENT NEWS: Despite having Fernando Tatis Jr. in the lineup, the Chihuahuas just lost four of six home games to Albuquerque… Tim Lopes homered in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday, and he is 11-for-21 in this series… the Chee-Wahs are loaded with ex-Rainiers. Domingo Tapia, Tim Lopes, Jantzen Witte, and Luis Liberato have all played for Tacoma, and their trainer Josh Diloreto was also once with Tacoma.
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:
- Mariners ace Luis Castillo had an off night, but his teammates picked him up and the M’s beat the Cardinals, 5-4.
- Here’s the story on Cooper Hummel being optioned to Tacoma.
June 1, 2023