We had our first PCL Triple-A West travel day in 19 months yesterday, and everything went smoothly with an easy flight to Salt Lake. Tonight the Rainiers open a six-game series at Salt Lake, with first pitch set for 5:35 (Pacific). We’ll be streaming the broadcast, as we will for every game this season.

Not everyone was on the flight. The Mariners made official the reported call-ups of Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert, with a surprise addition of Rainiers reliever Paul Sewald.

Tacoma is getting relievers Aaron Fletcher and Wyatt Mills back from Seattle, as well as outfielder Taylor Trammell. In addition, the Mariners have signed veteran infielder Eric Campbell and he joins the Rainiers today.

This is going to be a fun weekend for Mariners and Rainiers fans. In Seattle, we’ll get to see how the touted prospects fare in their first exposure to major league baseball. For the Rainiers, we’ll get to see if they can load up on wins in Salt Lake City, like the Reno Aces just did.

Salt Lake opened the season at home and lost five of six games to Reno. Now, to be fair to the Bees, the first three games were all one-run losses. Usually in a one-run loss you can point to a moment or two in the game where if an event had gone a different way it would have been a win. But in the Bees only win they blew a six-run lead in the ninth inning before taking the game in the tenth. In the series final on Tuesday, Salt Lake was trailing 6-5 and allowed six runs in the ninth. It seems that they might have a bullpen problem.

Salt Lake allowed 14 home runs in the opening series, which tied Oklahoma City for most HRs allowed in the first six games. Perhaps the Rainiers will get the power stroke going here at 4,200 feet above sea level.

RAINIERS DAILY

YESTERDAY: The Rainiers were off yesterday. On Tuesday the club took its first really tough loss of the year, an 8-2 decision in ten innings that allowed El Paso to salvage a split of the season-opening six-game series. The game was 1-1 after nine innings, before El Paso scored seven runs in the top of the tenth inning on six walks, two infield singles, and an error. It was not a sight for children. Adding to that, the Rainiers could have won in the ninth when Jack Reinheimer tripled with one out – but he was stranded at third base. Reinheimer had three hits in the game, and the Rainiers had a lot of good pitching prior to the tenth inning.

TODAY: Tacoma (3-3) at Salt Lake (1-5), 5:35 PT.

OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels.

OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.

SEASON SERIES: 0-0.

PITCHERS: RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 0.00) at LHP Dillon Peters (0-1, 11.57)

After one start for Double-A Arkansas, McCaughan makes his first Triple-A start of the season for Tacoma tonight. His Double-A start was on May 5 against the Kansas City Royals affiliate, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings. McCaughan made eleven starts for Tacoma during the 2018-2019 seasons.

ROSTER MOVES: The Triple-A roster carousel is in full swing. The Mariners called up outfielder Jarred Kelenic and pitchers Logan Gilbert and Paul Sewald. They optioned to Tacoma relievers Aaron Fletcher and Wyatt Mills, along with outfielder Taylor Trammell. Infielder Eric Campbell was signed to a minor league contract and assigned to Tacoma. Outfielder Braden Bishop was designated for assignment to open up a 40-man spot; we’ll learn his fate in a couple days.

HOT HITTERS: Donovan Walton has a six-game hitting streak… Sam Travis has a four-game hitting streak… Eric Filia has reached base in five straight games.

OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake has the Angels top prospect Jo Adell on the roster. Adell, an outfielder, hit two home runs including a tape-measure blast on Monday against Reno… infielder Kean Wong has opened the season with a six-game hitting streak.

BROADCAST: All games will be broadcast free on a live audio stream which is available right here.

As in the past, a streaming HD telecast is available through MiLB.TV. It’s a subscription service, but it’s just a one-time payment that gets you thousands of games from all levels of the minor leagues, including all 120 Tacoma Rainiers games home and away. That same link above has details on how to get it if you scroll down the page – there’s even a discount code.

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:

• In the wake of the news that Kelenic and Gilbert are being called up, the Seattle Times published a story on some of the most anticipated call-ups in Mariners history.
• The News Tribune has a game-by-game look at what Kelenic did during his six days in Tacoma.
• Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times floated the idea on Wednesday that Logan Gilbert could get his first major league opportunity this weekend – out of necessity more than anything else.
• The Mariners were swept by the Dodgers in the two-game series at Los Angeles. The lost yesterday 7-1, and in the first game of the series they blew a late lead when Kelenic’s pal from Wisconsin Gavin Lux hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
• Fangraphs has a detailed story on Mariners pitching prospect Adam Macko.
• Two Triple-A West teams are having their home opener tonight: Oklahoma City, and Reno. Both Sacramento and Sugar Land are opening the season with 12-game road trips and won’t have their home openers until next week.

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.

We R Tacoma

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.