PCL Tacoma Rainiers

#DarrenDay: D-Mac Cruises in a "Classic"

Published on April 23, 2023 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


Tacoma Rainiers' Darren McCaughan in action
Tacoma Rainiers' Darren McCaughan in action
(Tacoma Rainiers, Credit: Bryce Carithers)

Tacoma, WA - In his third start for the Tacoma Rainiers (11-8) this season and his first since being optioned by the Mariners on Tuesday, right-hander Darren McCaughan turned in a quality start, to put it mildly, in Saturday's thrilling 2-1 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas (7-13). Tacoma has won four of five on the homestand, heading into the series finale on Sunday.

The Rainiers are off to an 8-2 start at Cheney Stadium; on Saturday the club's "1960 Fauxback" uniforms made their season debut, to be worn six times in 2023, back by popular demand. The threads imagine how the team would've looked if the "Rainiers" moniker were in use during Cheney Stadium's inaugural season and the first year of Triple-A baseball in Tacoma. The win was a first for the uniforms; they were 0-2 in premiere action in 2022 (April 23-24, vs. Sugar Land).

McCaughan slung 6.0 innings, scattered five hits, walked only one batter and struck out 10. 10 punchouts were one shy of his career-high, on June 15 of last season at home vs. Sacramento. In that 4-1 Tacoma win, he fanned 11 over 7.1 IP (1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB).

The only run against the anchor of the Tacoma rotation came in the fourth inning, when former Rainier Tim Lopes (2019) led off with a double, and scored on a later double by Yorman Rodriguez.

El Paso righty Matt Waldron matched McCaughan with a quality start of his own: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

Still trailing 1-0 in the eighth, Tacoma loaded the bases on a Kean Wong double to centerfield and walks to Taylor Trammell and Cade Marlowe. With two out, Mike Ford pulled a groundball single to the right side, scoring the two lead runners. Ford, who homered three times on Friday, including a second inning grand slam in a 10-2 win, has driven in 10 of the last 12 Rainiers runs.

RHP Riley O'Brien fired 2.0 near-perfect IP in relief of McCaughan, to hold El Paso at their single run (1 H, 0 BB, 4 K). Protecting a one-run lead in the ninth, RHP Matt Festa retired the side in order (1 K) for his second successful save conversion in four days.

The victory was Tacoma's first one-run win this season, and their first win trailing after seven innings. The Rainiers are 3-0 with McCaughan on the mound.

The finale of this weeklong series will be on Sunday, a 1:35 PT first pitch at Cheney Stadium. RHP Easton McGee will start for Tacoma, and oppose El Paso RHP Pedro Avila.

Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto will have full coverage on TacomaRainiers.com. All 2023 Rainiers games, home and away, can also be heard for free on the MiLB First Pitch app. HD video broadcasts of every home game can be viewed with a MiLB.TV subscription.

Check out the Tacoma Rainiers Statistics

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Images from this story

Tacoma Rainiers' Darren McCaughan in action
Tacoma Rainiers' Darren McCaughan in action
(Bryce Carithers)		   



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 23, 2023


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