The Tacoma Rainiers close out the 2022 season with a 12:05 first pitch today at Reno. Tacoma has lost the first two games of the three-game series, but a win today would salvage a winning record in road games this season. Tacoma is 37-37 on the road this year – usually an indicator of success, but Tacoma played sub-.500 ball at Cheney Stadium and will finish the year a few games under.
Several Tacoma players are just staying fresh right now, and will be sent to the Mariners complex in Peoria, Arizona to be ready in case the major league team has additional injuries and needs reinforcements down the stretch or in the playoffs.
Other players are looking forward to getting home for the off-season, and preparing for the 2023 campaign.
Reno, however, is playing on. The final pennant race in the International League was settled last night, with Durham clinching its division, and the stage is set for Triple-A Championship Weekend at Las Vegas Ballpark starting on Friday. Here are the match-ups:
PCL Championship Game, Friday at 7:05: Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) vs. El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres)
IL Championship Game, Saturday at 6:05: Nashville Sounds (Brewers) vs. Durham Bulls (Rays)
Triple-A National Championship Game, Sunday at 4:05: the two league winners.
I’ll have a post early next week (probably Tuesday) to recap the results of the tournament, and share some final thoughts on the Rainiers 2022 season.
In the meantime, thanks to you guys for following the team this year, listening to the games, and reading the blog. Hopefully it was a fun season for you, and we’ll do it again starting March 31, 2023.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Reno made it two straight wins over Tacoma with a 7-2 decision on Tuesday night. Tacoma’s lone runs came in the seventh inning when Cade Marlowe hit a two-run triple. Catcher Jake Anchia made his Triple-A debut and lined a double for his first hit. Relievers Riley O’Brien and Kyle Bird each tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen in their likely final appearances of the season.
TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (72-77) at Reno Aces (84-63), 12:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Arizona Diamondbacks.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Gil Velazquez.
SEASON SERIES: Reno leads, 12-8.
PITCHERS: LHP Justus Sheffield (6-7, 7.02) at LHP Caleb Baragar (3-1, 5.76)
ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday the Mariners activated Eugenio Suarez and optioned Taylor Trammell to Tacoma, but he’s going to remain with the Mariners on the taxi squad.
HOT HITTERS: Mason McCoy has reached base safely in 28 of his last 31 games, and he is batting .299 with five homers and a .976 OPS in September… Jonathan Villar has reached base safely in 17 straight games, with hits in 16 of them, and has 13 RBI during this stretch…. Marcus Wilson has hit safely in five straight, but he has been out with a shoulder injury.
OPPONENT NEWS: Reno is the West Division champion, and the Aces are going into the playoffs hot. Reno has won five straight games and nine of the last 11, and they just took five-of-six on the road at Las Vegas… the Aces have two former Rainiers: infielder Jake Hager, and reliever Paul Fry… Jose Herrera has an eight-game hitting streak… Jonathan Cintron has hit safely in 29 of his last 32 games, he’s hitting .352 but doesn’t have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title… Camden Duzenack has a seven-game hitting streak.
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 got shut out by Texas last night, 5-0, yet still inched closer to clinching a playoff spot.
- Eugenio Suarez returned to the Mariners lineup yesterday.
March 16, 2023