The Rainiers arrived in Las Vegas late last night to get started on a 12-game road trip, and the team is coming in hot.
Tacoma has won four straight games, including a stunning seven-run comeback win in the last game of the homestand on Tuesday night. The Rainiers are a season-best four games over .500 and are three games out of first place.
Cal Raleigh’s hitting streak is still alive and sitting at 22 games going into a great hitter’s park here in Vegas. He needs four more games to tie the franchise record.
The Rainiers are going to be dealing with some serious heat here – even by Las Vegas standards. The forecasted high temperatures at the ballpark the next four days are 109, 109, 110, and 108. Those look like fastball velocities from MLB in the year 2070. Drink lots of fluids, boys.
We expect long, high-scoring games here. The Las Vegas Ballpark is a total launching pad, and the Aviators pitching staff has been getting roughed up. The Rainiers have a strong lineup right now and should be able to pile up some runs.
Tacoma added a starting pitcher today: left-hander Ian McKinney. In six starts for Double-A Arkansas, McKinney went 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched. He’s getting thrown into the fire tonight for his Triple-A debut, taking the mound at a launching pad in 105-degree heat. Go get ’em, kid!
This will be a fun series. There’s going to be lots of scoring, the ballpark is first rate – it was brand new in 2019 – and the games here are always entertaining.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The league was off yesterday. On Tuesday the Rainiers had a tremendous comeback win after trailing 7-0 early and 9-3 in the fifth inning. The Rainiers had five consecutive two-out RBI hits in the seventh inning to tie the game, 9-9, and won it in the tenth on Jack Reinheimer‘s sac fly. Jantzen Witte had three hits and Luis Liberato scored three runs. Zack Weiss was the bullpen star, entering with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth and escaping, then stranding the automatic runner in the tenth.
TODAY: Tacoma (19-15) at Las Vegas (18-18), 7:05 PT.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: 0-0.
PITCHERS: LHP Ian McKinney (0-0, 0.00) at RHP Matt Milburn (1-2, 9.37)
This will be the Triple-A debut for McKinney – his Double-A Arkansas stats are in the main story up above.
ROSTER MOVES: Today the Rainiers add pitcher Ian McKinney and catcher David Sheaffer from Double-A Arkansas. Catcher Jacob Nottingham is likely heading to the injured list after suffering what appeared to be an oblique injury in Tuesday’s game.
HOT HITTERS: Cal Raleigh has a 22-game hitting streak, going 36-for-91 during the streak… Raleigh has reached base safely in 26 straight games… the Rainiers home run streak ended at 20 games, clubbing 44 home runs during that time with 19 different players going deep. It was the longest active streak of its kind in pro baseball before it ended.
OPPONENT NEWS: Las Vegas lost its last three games to Reno, allowing 52 runs in the process. Read that sentence again and let it sink in… Frank Schwindel has been on a tear at the plate, homering in five straight games and winning the league’s Player of the Week award. He has belted seven homers in his last eight games… Jacob Wilson has a four-game hitting streak with seven RBI during it… outfielder Nate Mondou is from Tacoma and went to Charles Wright Academy… coaches Rick Rodriguez and Tommy Everidge both played for Tacoma, although Everidge is more remembered as a rival during his long time with Sacramento.
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:
- Seattle missed out on an opportunity to sweep the Minnesota Twins, dropping a 7-2 decision on Wednesday. That was after a convincing 10-0 win on Tuesday.
- The Mariners are going to full capacity at T-Mobile Park starting on July 2.
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.
We R Tacoma Team Store
The We R Tacoma Team Store is currently open Monday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (non-game days) or until the end of the game on home game days. Team Store purchases can also be made online 24/7. Grab your Rainiers gear, your Defiance ‘fit, and follow the team store on Instagram and Twitter.
June 7, 2023