We usually do a Week In Review on Sundays, but with only two posts this week it’s pretty brief.
On Friday we welcomed the squad back from the all-star break and had a whole lot of Mariners-related links.
Yesterday we covered the Rainiers five-pitcher, five-hit shutout in the series opener.
Salt Lake evened-up the three-game series here last night, and now we have a rarity in the 2022 Pacific Coast League: a rubber match.
Since the league is playing almost entirely six-game series this season, we never get a decisive final game. But this current series is one of our few three-game series of the year, and we’ve got a 1-1 tie going into the final game tonight.
Coincidentally, the Rainiers played one of their other three-game series here in Salt Lake City last month, and that one also reached a rubber match which Tacoma won. Let’s look for a repeat tonight.
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Scheduled starting pitcher Justus Sheffield was scratched during warm-ups on Friday night, and it turns out this was due to a stiff neck. The team hopes that he can return to make his next scheduled start, which comes Wednesday at home against El Paso.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Salt Lake scored five runs on six consecutive two-out hits in the third inning and held on to beat Tacoma, 5-3, which evened the series at one game apiece. Tacoma’s bullpen delivered 5.1 shutout innings, but the offense was unable to come all the way back. Jarred Kelenic had two hits and two outfield assists, and Brian O’Keefe hit a two-run homer.
TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (39-52) at Salt Lake Bees (43-49), 5:35 PT.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.
SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 12-11.
PITCHERS: RHP Darren McCaughan (6-5, 4.98) at RHP Touki Toussaint (0-0, 7.36)
ROSTER MOVES: Roster moves have been surprisingly quiet coming out of the all-star break.
HOT HITTERS: Mason McCoy has a six-game hitting streak… Brian O’Keefe and Forrest Wall have four-game hitting streaks… Marcus Wilson is 7-for-26 with five walks in eight games since returning from the big leagues.
OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake entered the break with a loss on Sunday at Las Vegas, which ended a four-game winning streak… Jose Rojas has been on a tear for the Bees, launching seven home runs during a 12-game hitting streak… Jake Palomaki has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games… the Bees have three former Rainiers on the roster and all are in the bullpen: Brian Moran, Jonathan Aro, and Zack Weiss.
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 dropped their second in a row to Houston yesterday, this time getting shut down by Justin Verlander.
- Julio Rodriguez missed his second game yesterday due to a sore wrist.
March 16, 2023