The Rainiers dropped their third straight home game to Las Vegas on Friday night, this one by a score of 6-2. One thing has been constant in each of the last three games: the Tacoma offense isn’t scoring enough to win.
Tacoma has been limited to a total of five runs over the past three games, and that’s not going to get it done in the PCL (or any league, for that matter). It’s not like their blowing scoring opportunities. Hits have been hard to get, with the team being limited to four, three, and seven hits in the last three games respectively. The team batting average during these three contests? .149 (14-for-94). One forty-nine.
Tonight is a good time for it to turn around. The Rainiers are starting Daniel Ponce de Leon, who had one of the most epic strikeout performances in Tacoma pitching history in his last start at Sacramento on Saturday. Ponce de Leon broke the Tacoma franchise record by striking out the first nine batters he faced, and he finished the game with 12 strikeouts in five innings of shutout ball. It was the most strikeouts by a Tacoma pitcher since Taijuan Walker had a 13 K game back in 2014.
Hopefully the Rainiers can get Ponce de Leon some run support, we can dodge the raindrops, and have a fun Saturday evening at the park. Tacoma hung ten runs on the board the last time Ponce de Leon took the mound, and he ranks tied for third in the league with four wins.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Las Vegas starting pitcher Adrian Martinez limited the Rainiers to two runs over six innings, and the Aviators coasted to a 6-2 win over the Rainiers. Vegas scored three runs in the top of the first inning on four consecutive two-out hits and never gave up the lead. Tacoma had seven hits in the game. Jarred Kelenic went 4-for-4 with a triple and a homer to lead the Rainiers offense.
TODAY: Las Vegas Aviators (25-21) at Tacoma Rainiers (16-30), 5:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: Las Vegas leads, 7-3.
PITCHERS: RHP Parker Dunshee (1-4, 6.63) at RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon (4-2, 4.74)
ROSTER MOVES: Outfielder Billy Hamilton has opted out of his contract, becoming a free agent.
HOT HITTERS: Brian O’Keefe has reached base with a hit or a walk in 15 of the 16 games he has played in this season… Jarred Kelenic has a four-game hitting streak, going 7-for-14… Zach Green has a four-game hitting streak, going 4-for-15.
OPPONENT NEWS: The Aviators beat the Rainiers four out of six games when the two teams played in Las Vegas at the end of April… catcher Shea Langeliers is a highly rated prospect; he homered four times against Tacoma in April… Las Vegas has former Tacoma reliever Parker Markel in the bullpen… infielder Nate Mondou is from Lake Tapps, and he attended high school in Tacoma at Charles Wright Academy… Billy McKinney has gone 5-for-12 with two homers and five walks during this series.
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 Mariners launched four home runs off Justin Verlander and took down the Astros last night, 6-1.
- Larry Stone has a column on the highlight of the Mariners season to date: Julio Rodriguez looks like the real deal.
- Roenis Elias was called up to replace Drew Steckenrider. This notebook also contains details about a rehabilitation assignment for reliever Ken Giles, who may pitch for Tacoma today or tomorrow.
March 24, 2023