The Rainiers won huge yesterday, 12-2, getting a big performance from young outfielder Kennie Taylor.
With the Rainiers trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning against Salt Lake starter Packy Naughton, Taylor ripped a three-run shot to left field for his first Triple-A home run to give Tacoma the lead. Later, in the seventh inning, Taylor lined a bases loaded single to center for a pair of runs, giving himself a five RBI game.
Taylor just joined the Rainiers on Sunday – although he was with the club earlier this season, in June, when the Rainiers were short on outfielders. He’s a new member of the organization and hasn’t yet been with a single team getting regular at-bats.
A product of the Duke University baseball program, Taylor comes from an athletic family: his mother ran track and field at Dartmouth College, and his father lettered in both football and track at Adrian College. Kennie played four years for Duke, before being drafted by the New York Mets in 2019. The Mets assigned Taylor to their short-season rookie level after the draft, and Taylor played for both Kingsport and Brooklyn.
The 2020 season without minor league baseball must have impacted Taylor’s standing in the Mets organization. When minor league baseball started up again in May, Taylor was left on the sidelines and the Mets released him. The Seattle Mariners, needing outfield help in the organization, quickly signed him to a minor league contract and he was in the system just four days after being released by the Mets.
For now, Taylor’s role is to help out wherever an outfielder is needed in the system. He’s played in 15 games for Low-A Modesto and hit .306 with a homer there, and now he’s made an impact with the Triple-A club to help win a game. He’s doing well in his current role, which should earn him more playing time in the organization.
Nothing in baseball beats a Game Seven, and here we are.
The Salt Lake Bees and Tacoma Rainiers are tied three games each heading into tonight’s dramatic Game Seven at Cheney Stadium. Who will win this series? We’ll find out at 7:05 – and unlike Game Seven of the World Series, there will be tickets at the door tonight!
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Tacoma launched a season-best five home runs in a 12-2 win over Salt Lake on Monday night. Kennie Taylor and Brian O’Keefe each hit their first career Triple-A dingers, while Jose Marmolejos, Jantzen Witte, and Jake Hager also went deep. Starting pitcher Logan Verrett lasted six innings, allowing just one run: a solo homer to the rehabilitating Justin Upton on the very first pitch of the game.
TODAY: Salt Lake (32-33) at Tacoma (34-30), 7:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 10-7.
PITCHERS: RHP Jaime Barria (3-1, 3.94) at RHP Ryan Weber (0-0, 0.00)
Weber will be making his 2021 Tacoma Rainiers debut tonight – he was recently claimed off waivers by the Mariners. Barria pitched a complete game and beat Tacoma in the first game of this series on Thursday, 3-2.
ROSTER MOVES: Prior to yesterday’s game the Rainiers activated reliever Jimmy Yacabonis from the injured list.
HOT HITTERS: Jose Marmolejos has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, batting.468 (22-for-47) during the stretch… Marmolejos has hit seven home runs over his last nine games… Jantzen Witte has a six-game hitting streak, and he has gone 25-for-66 (.378) over his last 19 games… Jake Hager has a five-game hitting streak, and has had ten of his last 13 hits go for extra bases (six doubles and four homers).
OPPONENT NEWS: Jo Adell had his 13-game hitting streak end Sunday… Adell leads the league in home runs (19) and RBI (57)… Jake Gatewood was a problem for the Rainiers on Saturday and Sunday, hitting two homers and driving in nine runs over the weekend… Michael Stefanic has a ten-game hitting streak.
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:
- With the Mariners off yesterday, the Seattle Times has an article on fan reaction to recent news.
- MLB.com has a story on rising Mariners Low-A Modesto prospect Noelvi Marte.
- Mariners prospect Austin Shenton makes an appearance on this week’s edition of the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet.
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