The Rainiers have hit a little bit of a lull as the current 12-game road trip reaches its final stage, dropping two straight games in Las Vegas.
Tacoma opened the road trip by winning four of six at Oklahoma City, knocking the Dodgers out of first place in the East Division. Then the Rainiers rolled into Las Vegas and won the first two games on Tuesday and Wednesday, improving to 6-2 on the trip.
That secured at least a split of the road trip, even if the last four games went bad. Unfortunately, the first two have indeed gone bad, losses by scores of 7-5 and 9-3.
Now it’s time for two games in less than 24 hours, as the road trip wraps up with a 7:05 game tonight followed by the traditional 12:05 Sunday start in Las Vegas. The Rainiers then fly home to open the final homestand of the season starting on Tuesday at Cheney Stadium.
There is still time to secure a winning record for the road trip. Tacoma looks to do that tonight.
YESTERDAY: Las Vegas belted three homers and beat the Rainiers on Friday night, 9-3. Matt Davidson homered twice, raising his season total to 29, and Jordan Diaz hit a two-run shot. Tacoma had just six hits in the game, with rehabilitating Dylan Moore going 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (66-73) at Las Vegas Aviators (69-70), 7:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan
SEASON SERIES: Las Vegas leads, 14-8.
PITCHERS: LHP Austin Warner (5-2, 4.38) at RHP Mason Miller (–)
Miller, a 2021 draft pick of the Oakland A’s, is making his Triple-A debut. He reportedly throws 100 mph, and he’s only pitched nine innings this season, all at Class-A.
ROSTER MOVES: None today as of posting time.
HOT HITTERS: Mason McCoy has reached base safely in 20 of his last 21 games… Jonathan Villar has homered three times and driven in ten runs during an eight-game hitting streak… Jarred Kelenic has a nine-game hitting streak… Marcus Wilson has hit safely in five straight.
OPPONENT NEWS: Las Vegas returns home from a 12-game road trip. It started in Reno, where the Aviators missed an opportunity to gain in the standings by losing four of six. They rebounded by going 4-2 at Sacramento… the Aviators don’t currently have any former Rainiers players, but they do still have the Lake Tapps native and Charles Wright Academy alum Nate Mondou… Kevin Smith has hit safely in ten of his last 11 games… 22-year-old Jordan Diaz was recently promoted to Triple-A, and he’s 7-for-17 with two homers and six RBI during this series… Matt Davidson has hit four homers in this series, and six over his last eight games.
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 lost to the Angels last night, 8-7, and third baseman Eugenio Suarez left with an injury.
- Larry Stone wrote earlier in the day about the impact Suarez has had on the team.
- Ryan Divish has a Mariners Notebook that includes some Rainiers-related items.
- Here’s a better primer on the players the Mariners selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League.
June 7, 2023