The Tacoma Rainiers seven-game win streak ended on Sunday in Las Vegas, with a 14-3 loss to the Aviators. It was Tacoma’s longest winning streak since the team won eight straight in July of 2016.
The streak ended with a blowout loss. Trudging out of the ballpark in a 110-degree oven-like heat afterwards, looking for something to think about other than baking to a crisp during the ten minute walk back to the beautifully air conditioned hotel, I started to wonder: which way would you prefer to have a long win streak end?
Would you prefer to have your favorite team’s long win streak end on a dramatic ninth inning loss, blowing a lead and letting the game get away on a clutch hit by the opponent? Or would you rather have it end like this one did, getting blasted early and losing a lopsided game?
As a fan of close games, I guess I’d prefer the former. But there is something mentally freeing about the streak being over early in a game. By the sixth inning yesterday the Rainiers trailed 11-2 and we knew it was almost certainly over. Even in the Potential Comeback League (PCL) that was pretty much it.
There was a positive yesterday: Dillon Thomas went 3-for-4 at the plate, and even the time he made an out he hit a line drive. Thomas had been in a 2-for-20 funk since being optioned to Tacoma by the Mariners. Hopefully this game got him right, because he’s an important hitter in the middle of Tacoma’s lineup.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The Rainiers seven-game winning streak ended emphatically on Sunday afternoon, with a 14-3 loss in Las Vegas. The Aviators had three homers among their 16 hits and had a relentless offensive attack, scoring against each of the first five Tacoma pitchers who entered the game.
TODAY: Tacoma (22-16) at Las Vegas (19-21), 7:05 PT.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: Tacoma leads, 3-1.
PITCHERS: RHP Logan Verrett (2-1, 2.70) at RHP Brian Howard (1-3, 6.54)
The Rainiers are done with bullpen days for a bit, with stretched-out starters Verrett and David Huff set to start these final two games in Vegas. Verrett is facing one of his former teams: he made 41 starts for Las Vegas from 2014 to 2016 when they were the New York Mets affiliate.
ROSTER MOVES: As of publish times I have not heard of any roster moves for the Rainiers today, and there weren’t any on Sunday either. A Mariners winning streak can really slow down the transactions!
HOT HITTERS: Cal Raleigh saw his 23-game hitting streak come to an end on Friday. He was 38-for-96 (.396) during the streak, which started on May 15… it’s Tacoma’s longest hitting streak since Chad Akers tied the franchise record of 26 in 1999… Jack Reinheimer has a four-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games… Jose Marmolejos has a four-game hitting streak… acting manager Tony Arnerich is 10-5 filling in for Kristopher Negron, who is away on paternity leave.
OPPONENT NEWS: Las Vegas ended a six-game losing streak on Sunday… Frank Schwindel was on a tear at the plate last week, homering in five straight games and winning the league’s Player of the Week award. He has belted eight homers in his last 12 games… outfielder Nate Mondou is from Tacoma and went to Charles Wright Academy; he had three hits with a homer on Sunday… coaches Rick Rodriguez and Tommy Everidge both played for Tacoma, although Everidge is more remembered as a rival during his long time with Sacramento.
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.
TRIPLE-A WEST SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to Gameday screens right here.
STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Shed Long hit a game ending grand slam and the Mariners swept Tampa, and have won seven of the last eight games.
- The Mariners are really good at close games, going 8-1 in extra innings. Matt Calkins has a column on this.
- It’s not all good news: Ty France‘s wrist continues to bother him.
- The News Tribune has its weekly Mariners round-up.
- Mariners Double-A pitcher Penn Murfee makes a surprise appearance on this week’s edition of the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet.
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.
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.
March 16, 2023