Greetings from Oklahoma City, where the Tacoma Rainiers have not appeared since 2019 and have not won a game since… uh oh… 2017? Yup, 2017. Danny Muno homered in the last Tacoma victory in this city, and Max Povse was credited with the win.
It’s not as bad as it sounds. Tacoma’s losing streak at Bricktown Ballpark is only five games. The schedule simply hasn’t had the Rainiers travelling out this way very often.
The Rainiers arrive in town this time with an opportunity to impact the East Division playoff race, which is shaping up to be a real good one. Oklahoma City is in first place, but their lead is just two games over Round Rock, with El Paso hanging around just 3.5 games out of first. Tacoma has these six games against Oklahoma City, and the Rainiers only remaining homestand of the year (September 20-25) is six games against Round Rock.
Of course, the Rainiers players don’t care who wins the East. But they do care about putting forth their best effort each game, and finishing the season on a high note – and if that causes some chaos in the East Division standings, nothing wrong with that!
This trip is apparently timed well, weather-wise. It’s around 90 degrees here this week, not too humid, and was downright pleasant when walking around to get dinner after last night. Should be perfect for baseball.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The whole PCL was off yesterday. On Sunday the Rainiers lost to Sacramento, 2-1, allowing the River Cats to salvage a split of the six-game series. Darren McCaughan started and pitched well, permitting two runs over six innings, but got stuck with the loss when the Tacoma bats could muster just one run on four hits. Luis Torrens homered for Tacoma’s lone run in the eighth inning.
TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (60-69) at Oklahoma City Dodgers (73-56), 5:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Dodgers.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Travis Barbary
SEASON SERIES: Tied, 3-3.
PITCHERS: LHP Justus Sheffield (5-7, 7.12) at RHP Beau Burrows (6-5, 7.07)
This is a bullpen game for Oklahoma City.
ROSTER MOVES: Pitcher Colby Morris was transferred back to the Arizona complex.
HOT HITTERS: Mason McCoy has reached base safely in 12 straight games, and he has homered seven times over his last 19 games… Kyle Lewis had his seven-game hitting streak end on Sunday with an 0-for-3, but he did draw a walk and has reached base in eight straight… Brian O’Keefe has a five-game hitting streak.
OPPONENT NEWS: Oklahoma City has the best record in the league, but the Dodgers lead in the East is just two games over Round Rock after dropping four of six to the Express in a series that ended Sunday… James Outman defied all of the laws of physics and nature when he hit for the cycle twice in a span of four games, August 26 vs. El Paso and August 30 at Round Rock… highly-regarded prospect Michael Busch has a four-game hitting streak… Jason Martin leads the PCL with 30 home runs… reliever Daniel Zamora is the lone former Rainier currently active for Oklahoma City… Chief Sealth (Seattle) High School alum Keone Kela is now with Oklahoma City.
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’s weekly Rainiers report focuses on the rehabilitation assignment of Mariners reliever Matthew Boyd.
- After a marathon day in Cleveland on Sunday, the fatigued Seattle Mariners had their seven-game win streak end at home to the White Sox yesterday.
- The Times has a notebook on how the Mariners players handled the four-and-a-half hour rain delay in Cleveland.
- Matt Calkins asked around to try to find out what caused the Mariners season to turn around.
- Minor league players have voted to join the Major League Baseball Player’s Association for future representation, and now the MLBPA is asking the owners to recognize minor leaguers as part of the union.
June 8, 2023