Thursday was a rough day at the office for the Tacoma Rainiers. After six innings of a well-played ballgame, which Salt Lake led 2-1, everything went south in the seventh inning.
First, the Bees scored ten runs in the top of the seventh. Then, Rainiers star Taylor Trammell got injured in the bottom of the inning.
Trammell was batting, and he pulled a hard high-bouncer to the second baseman. Bolting out of the batter’s box, Trammell got about two-thirds of the way to first base when he suddenly collapsed to the ground, holding his right leg. He was in excruciating pain, and had to be helped off the field by trainer Michael Feliciano and teammate Steven Souza Jr.
Meeting with the media prior to the Seattle Mariners season opener earlier today, general manager Jerry Dipoto told the Seattle Times that Trammell will be getting an MRI on his right hamstring. There are a variety of possible outcomes based on the severity of the injury, so we’ll have to wait for the results to come in before there is any further information.
That really put a damper on what was already a tough night, but we did learn something interesting: the Rainiers blowout pitcher this year is first baseman Mike Ford.
Ford was a two-way player in college at Princeton, where he was both in the starting rotation and also the starting first baseman when he wasn’t pitching. Ford has pitched in a major league game once, for the Yankees in a blowout.
I’m sure when Ford was in college he threw fairly hard and actually pitched, but in the blowout situation last night he was lobbing the ball in there. No need to risk an arm injury when it’s 14-1. Last year the Rainiers blowout pitcher was Jantzen Witte, who brought some artistry to the role by refining a high-arching eephus pitch. We’ll see what Ford can do this year – the big hope, though, is that he isn’t pressed into service often!
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Salt Lake led 2-1 after six innings, and then scored ten runs in the top of the seventh to turn a good game into a blowout, with a 14-1 final. Tacoma had six hits, including two from both Zach Green and Kevin Padlo. Steven Souza Jr. made his Tacoma debut and did not put a ball in play: he struck out once and drew four walks. Reliever Patrick Weigel looked impressive in his Tacoma debut, pitching two scoreless innings and reaching 96 on the radar gun.
TODAY: Salt Lake Bees (2-1) at Tacoma Rainiers (1-2), 7:05 PT.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 2-1.
PITCHERS: LHP Kenny Rosenberg (0-0, 0.00) at LHP Nick Margevicius (0-0, 0.00)
This will be the first minor league game for Margevicius since he was with Double-A Amarillo in 2019 – in fact, it’s his Triple-A debut. Margevicius spent most of the 2021 season on the Mariners injured list as a result of shoulder surgery.
ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday the Rainiers added outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon to the active roster. Ponce de Leon was just signed after spending spring training with the Angels. Five players on loan from Advanced-A Everett were returned to the Aqua Sox: relievers Fred Villarreal, Kyle Hill, and Jarod Bayless, plus infielder Spencer Packard and catcher Andy Thomas.
HOT HITTERS: Zach Green has hit safely in each of the first three games of the season, and both Forrest Wall and Erick Mejia have two-game hitting streaks.
OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake has two members of the 2021 league champion Tacoma Rainiers on its roster: outfielder Dillon Thomas, and reliever Zack Weiss. Also, former Rainiers reliever Jonathan Aro is with the Bees. Salt Lake opening night starter Janson Junk attended Decatur High School in Federal Way, and Seattle U.
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 spoke with some Rainiers fans at the season opener Tuesday as a part of its Mariners season preview.
- Prior to the first pitch on opening day, the Seattle Mariners signed shortstop J.P. Crawford to a five-year contract extension. Lots of good background in this story.
- Is there too much hype for Julio Rodriguez?
March 25, 2023