The Tacoma Rainiers had their first rainout of the season yesterday, with the game postponed hours before it was set to begin. There will be a makeup doubleheader on Thursday, July 15 at 6:05 pm.
Longtime fans may have noticed that the game was called early. That’s part of the Covid guidelines for 2021, and it’s pretty reasonable:
MLB doesn’t want the players crowded into small, cramped areas for hours at a time. That’s proven to be a riskier situation for the spread of Covid-19.
What do baseball players do during a long rain delay? They sit together in a small, cramped area (the locker room) for hours at a time, waiting for the rain to stop and the game to start.
For now, MLB has asked minor league teams to avoid situations where you might be waiting hours to get the game started. They are encouraging the minor league general managers and umpires to make quicker decisions on rain delays and postponements.
Those new guidelines made it an easy decision for the Rainiers yesterday. The forecast looked miserable – especially during the time that the game was supposed to begin – and there was no way we were going to play without a long delay or even multiple delays. So, we banged it.
Today looks much better, with no rain showing in the forecast for this evening.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The game was rained out, with a makeup date scheduled for July 15 when the Bees return to town. That will be a doubleheader, with two seven-inning games starting at 6:05.
TODAY: Salt Lake (11-16) at Tacoma (14-13), 1:35 PT.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 6-3.
PITCHERS: RHP Jaime Barria (0-1, 5.59) at RHP Logan Verrett (2-0, 1.42)
The Rainiers got to skip a bullpen day due to yesterday’s rainout, which helps refresh all the relievers.
ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday the Rainiers did make an exchange of players on the Injured List: reliever Brooks Pounders was activated and is ready to go, but first baseman Sam Travis was placed on the list with an injury to his left hand.
HOT HITTERS: Cal Raleigh has a 16-game hitting streak, going 29-for-69 during the streak… Raleigh has reached base safely in 20 straight games… Dillon Thomas has 11 hits with four homers over his last eight games… both Shed Long and Jack Reinheimer have hit safely in seven straight games… the Rainiers have homered in each of the last 14 games, clubbing 32 home runs during that time with 13 different players going deep.
OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake is 6-3 against Tacoma and 5-13 against the three other teams they have played… outfielder Jo Adell leads all of minor league baseball with 15 home runs… Scott Schebler has gone 7-for-13 over the first three games of the series… reliever Tim Peterson was born in Tacoma and graduated from Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup.
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:
- Mariners rookie Logan Gilbert showed some toughness yesterday, escaping several jams to get through five innings and earn his first major league win over the Angels. The Mariners split the four-game series and have a day off today.
- In this Mariners Notebook we learn that Yusei Kikuchi‘s knee injury may not be that bad after all.
- Lauren Smith of The News Tribune has her weekly(?) Mariners round-up.
- If you’ve been to any of the first three games of this series, you will not be surprised to learn that Salt Lake’s Jo Adell ranks high on this week’s installment 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.
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.
March 24, 2023