El Paso tied the series yesterday, topping Tacoma 5-1. It was the first time that the Rainiers have been held below six runs in a game this year, as Tacoma had just seven singles and did not draw a walk. Tip of the cap to Chihuahuas starter Jesse Scholtens, who had good control and even struck out Jarred Kelenic twice swinging with low curveballs (Kelenic ended up getting his regularly-scheduled two hits anyway).

There are two games remaining in the opening series/homestand against El Paso, with 6:05 pm start times tonight and tomorrow.

Tonight is our first Triple-A West Night In America, courtesy of the new minor league baseball schedule. Most nights there are 60 games around the country, but not on Mondays. There are only five minor league games on Mondays, and all of them are exclusively Triple-A West games.

Triple-A West Night In America airs on MiLB TV and www.wertacoma.com/broadcast.

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Speaking of the schedule, a longtime member of the Tacoma Rainiers press box crew asked an interesting question the other day: with every series being six games this season, how many six-game series sweeps will there be in the entire league?

Each team plays 20 six-game series. There is a total of 100 six-game series that will be played in the league, barring rainouts and make-ups. Our veteran press box guy set the over/under at 3.5.

I’d lean toward the under, except here we are in the first series of the season and there are two teams that are already up 4-0: Reno has won the first four at Salt Lake, and Round Rock has taken four straight from Oklahoma City.

RAINIERS DAILY

YESTERDAY: The Rainiers were held to just seven singles in a 5-1 loss to El Paso on Sunday afternoon, evening the series at two games each. It was the first of three straight bullpen games for the Rainiers, with six pitchers getting into the action. Jarred Kelenic, Donovan Walton, and Sam Travis each hit two singles for the Rainiers.

TODAY: El Paso (2-2) at Tacoma (2-2), 6:05.

OPPONENT AFFILIATION: San Diego Padres.

OPPOSING MANAGER: Edwin Rodriguez.

SEASON SERIES: Tied, 2-2.

PITCHERS: LHP Nick Ramirez (0-0, 4.50) at RHP Jimmy Yacabonis (0-0, 0.00)

Yacabonis pitched in relief on Friday, and now he’s starting on Monday. These things are going to keep happening, as Tacoma is currently using a 16-man pitching staff with just two traditional starting pitchers on it (Logan Gilbert and Hector Santiago).

ROSTER MOVES: New relief pitchers Brooks Pounders and Justin Grimm joined the club prior to Sunday’s game, although neither was used. Expect them to start seeing some action this week, perhaps as soon as tonight.

HOT HITTERS: Jarred Kelenic has opened the season with four consecutive two-hit games… Donovan Walton has a four-game hitting streak.

OPPONENT NEWS: Pitcher MacKenzie Gore is the top prospect on the Chihuahuas, but catcher Luis Campusano and infielder Tucupita Marcano are also well-regarded young players. El Paso has former Rainiers Patrick Kivlehan, John Andreoli, Aaron Northcraft, and Parker Markel.

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:

• The News Tribune has a round-up of how the Mariners top prospects are doing through the first couple of games, including Tacoma’s Jarred Kelenic and Cal Raleigh. The stats are through Saturday’s action.
• Corey Brock of The Athletic suggests that Kelenic could be called up as soon as this Thursday (subscription site). I tend to agree with him on this – if you want to see Kelenic in Tacoma, better come out tonight or tomorrow to be safe.
• The Texas Rangers ripped the Mariners yesterday, 10-2.
• The Times has a Mariners Notebook which includes a list of the six (six!) Mariners pitchers on the injured list, which has caused the Rainiers to use a pitching staff almost entirely comprised of relievers.
• Hey, we have a Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet! Missed ya’, Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet.
• The Fangraphs column on the return of the minor leagues includes a segment on the Jarred Kelenic vs MacKenzie Gore battles from Friday night.
• One reason the Pacific Northwest is really nice: we don’t have to worry about the cicada invasion ruining our games.

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, which begins its inaugural season on May 6, 2021. Tacoma has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.

Single game tickets through May 11 are now available. Purchase tickets in either vaccinated (must show proof of vaccine at gates) or non-vaccinated sections. 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.