PCL Tacoma Rainiers

Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes: vs. El Paso (12:05 p.m.)

Published on July 26, 2022 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release


Tacoma Rainiers (39-53) vs. El Paso Chihuahuas (52-41)

Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 12:05 p.m. PT | Cheney Stadium: Tacoma, WA

LHP Austin Warner vs. LHP Luke Westphal

DOG DAYS: This weeklong series is the first - and will be the only - meeting between the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres) and the Rainiers this season. El Paso has not made a trip to Cheney Stadium since the opening series of 2021. Last season, Tacoma clinched the Triple-A West Regular Season Championship at El Paso on September 18 with a 7-3 win; Taylor Trammell's bases loaded triple into the left field gap in the ninth inning was the winning hit in that game, and Trammell is expected to begin a rehab assignment with the Rainiers before the series ends on Sunday (hamstring). On 8/31/20, Trammell was traded by San Diego along with 1B Ty France, RHP Andres Munoz, and C Luis Torrens to Seattle in a seven-player deal.

SPENT A MONTH THERE ONE NIGHT: Due to the new-look, 10-team PCL's unbalanced schedule, Tacoma will not travel to El Paso this season, despite the two being former "Pacific Conference" rivals in the 16-team PCL. The El Paso franchise relocated from Tucson for the 2014 season, and played the Rainiers 16 times each year through 2019, prior to Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minors. Tacoma is 27-27 all-time at El Paso. The Chihuahuas are 29-25 all-time at Cheney Stadium.

"RING"-ERS: El Paso's current active roster has two players who were members of Tacoma's 2021 title squad: LHP Ray Kerr and OF Luis Liberato. Kerr was traded to the Padres on 11/27/21 along with OF Corey Rosier in exchange for 2B Adam Frazier. Kerr made his MLB debut on 4/24 in San Diego against the Dodgers with a perfect ninth inning and a swinging strikeout of Max Muncy. Liberato spent the first nine years of his career (2013-21) with the Mariners before signing with the Padres in the offseason, and continues to strive for his MLB debut.

Tacoma has a pair of relievers who spent time with both El Paso and San Diego last year: LHP Nick Ramirez and RHP Taylor Williams. Ramirez appeared in 13 MLB games a season ago (20.1 IP) and Williams pitched five times for San Diego (5.1 IP), around their time in El Paso.

UNI WATCH: The 2022 Tacoma Rainiers have the following win-loss record by uniform top: Home white (11-13), red (16-22), navy blue pullover (5-4), road grey (5-8), "La Familia de Tacoma" (2-2, Copa de la Diversion), specialty auction (0-4). The next "Copa" game at Cheney Stadium will be this Friday at 7:05 p.m. PT.

STEAL A BASE, STEAL A TACO(MA): Tacoma is tied for the Triple-A lead in stolen bases (116) with Buffalo (International League). Rainiers outfielder Forrest Wall is third in the Pacific Coast League in steals, with 27.

IN KEL'S KITCHEN: Tacoma outfielder Jarred Kelenic is batting .314 over his last 23 games, reaching base safely in 20. His OPS is .984 (.386/.598) in that span (since June 22), thanks to 10 doubles, five home runs and two triples (21 RBI, 15 R, 11 BB). Earlier this season, Kelenic compiled the longest Tacoma hit streak of 2022, 13 games from May 24 to June 8. Since being optioned on May 13, Kelenic has 61 hits for the Rainiers (.292 AVG), 32 for extra bases, a staggering 52.5% of his Triple-A hit total this season (118 total bases in 49 GP, .565 SLG).

MEJIA MASH: Tacoma INF/OF Erick Mejia is 25-for-80 (.313) during his last 20 games (3 HR, 9 doubles). Mejia is OPSing .909 during this span (dating to June 22), as he's slugging .538 over his last 89 plate appearances (8 BB, .371 OBP). Mejia's 19 doubles tie him for sixth-most in the PCL; San Diego Padres prospect Eguy Rosario (El Paso) leads the league with 26.

EVERY DAY PATTY: RHP Patrick Weigel's 35 appearances are already four shy of his career-high, lead Tacoma and tie him for fourth-most in the PCL. He's limiting batters on the notoriously offensive circuit to a .216 average, and is striking out over a batter an inning (44 K/41.0 IP). Weigel's best stretch was from May 20 to June 3, when he worked five consecutive appearances without a run- or a hit (4.1 IP). He compiled five straight scoreless appearances again from June 22 to July 4 (5.0 IP). A former starter drafted in the seventh round by Atlanta in 2015, Weigel's career-high in games came last season, appearing in 36 for Triple-A Nashville and three more in the Majors with Milwaukee.

NO PLACE LIKE: July 12 vs. Oklahoma City began a stretch of 12 of 15 and 25 of 34 games at home for the Rainiers, which will include their longest homestand of the season from August 9-21 against Las Vegas and Albuquerque (13 games, 12 openings, off day on 8/15). The 13-game homestand will include a single-admission doubleheader on Saturday, August 13 against Las Vegas, to make up the Saturday, May 28 rainout at Cheney Stadium. Tacoma opened this stretch of home games 3-3 against OKC, who currently have the PCL's best record (55-38).

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