Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes: vs. Las Vegas (6:05 PT)
May 24, 2023 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Tacoma Rainiers (22-24) vs. Las Vegas Aviators (21-25)
Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 6:05p.m. PT | Cheney Stadium: Tacoma, WA
RHP Darren McCaughan vs. RHP Paul Blackburn (MLB Rehab)
#DarrenDay: 2023 is the fifth season in which right-hander Darren McCaughan has pitched for Tacoma. His 68th career start for the Rainiers will be tonight, which places him alone in ninth all-time in Tacoma Triple-A history (since 1960). McCaughan is four starts shy of seventh all-time on the franchise list, a spot currently shared by Juan Veintidos (1974-77 Tacoma Twins) and Ryan Franklin (1997-2001 Rainiers) at 71 starts apiece. With two more strikeouts, McCaughan will pass RHP Tim Harikkala (318) for eighth in franchise history (Harikkala 76 GS, 5th, 1995-98).
DE HEATER: Rainiers outfielder Zach DeLoach is on a 10-game hit streak, extended by a two-run triple in yesterday's 5-4 win over Las Vegas (GW hit); the streak has surpassed Brian O'Keefe and Cade Marlowe at nine apiece for Tacoma's club-long this season. The longest Rainiers hit streak last season was 13, by Jarred Kelenic.
Sunday at Albuquerque, DeLoach added four base hits to his second inning solo home run during Tacoma's 6-4 win; it was the first five-hit performance for the Rainiers since Jantzen Witte on 8/16/21 vs. Las Vegas at Cheney Stadium. DeLoach's big day made him 12-for-24 on the six-game road trip to the Land of Enchantment.
WELL, THAT'S PECULIAR: The Rainiers have one of only three positive run differentials in the 10-team Pacific Coast League entering today's action, despite being two games under .500. OKC (34-12) is +49, while second place Reno (29-18) is +57. Tacoma is +8 in runs (274-266).
THE OPEN-R: The 2023 Rainiers are continuing last season's trend of starting series on a high note. Tacoma is 6-3 in lid-lifters this season after yesterday's win (3-1 home), and 24-12 in such games dating to 4/5/22 (primarily six-game series). The Rainiers were 18-9 in series openers in 2022, which was 25% of their win total (72-78).
500 MEMORIES: Yesterday was the 500th Triple-A game between Tacoma and Las Vegas. They've been playing since 1983, with Las Vegas known as the Stars (1983-2000), 51s (2001-18) and Aviators (2019-present). The Tacoma Tigers (Oakland A's) played the Las Vegas Stars from 1983 to 1994 before the Rainiers era and Seattle affiliation began in 1995. The Stars/51s/Aviators were affiliated with San Diego (1993-2000), Los Angeles-NL (2001-08), Toronto (2009-12) and New York-NL (2013-18) before the current affiliation with Oakland began for 2019.
SCHEIN BRIGHT ON THE DIAMOND: Rainiers INF/OF Jake Scheiner currently ranks top five in the PCL in home runs (13), extra-base hits (24), total bases (95) and runs scored (38). His 36 RBI and 11 doubles each rank top eight in the league. Scheiner is batting .329 in May over 20 games (24-for-73, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 18 R, 10 BB, 1.021 OPS). The Triple-A rookie's solid .269 average is still misleading when you consider his overall .949 OPS (.380/.569). Scheiner began this season by starting and finishing each of Tacoma's first 24 games. His 13 HR are tied for fifth-most in all of MiLB (2nd in the PCL).
COO(BB)ER: Rainiers OF/1B/C and Seattle 40-man roster player Cooper Hummel has walked 27x in only 24 games since being optioned to Tacoma on April 22. Hummel is batting .213 (16-for-75), but his on-base percentage is .423. Hummel has also stolen 10 bases (1 CS), which is equal to Mason McCoy for the club lead and tied for sixth in the PCL. He was traded to the Mariners by Arizona straight up for outfielder Kyle Lewis on 11/17/22. Hummel grew up a Mariners fan in Lake Oswego, Oregon before playing three seasons at the University of Portland (NCAA D-I, West Coast Conference).
FESTAVAL: Rainiers RHP Matt Festa has been absolute nails after being optioned to Tacoma on April 9. He's carrying a 0.47 ERA in 16 games (19.0 IP, 1 ER), and has converted all nine of his save opportunities, which leads the Pacific Coast League, by three. Festa is allowing a meager .100 average (6 hits) vs. Triple-A batters, after retiring the side in order (1 K) to close yesterday's 5-4 homestand-opening win over Las Vegas. He's saved Tacoma's last three games, in four days (3-run, 2-run & 1-run leads).
RILED UP: RHP Riley O'Brien has settled in before Matt Festa as Tacoma's most frequent eighth inning option (5 holds); the Seattle native has struck out 28 batters over 18.1 IP (2 ER, 0.98 ERA, 2 SV). When O'Brien made his MLB debut for Cincinnati on 9/30/21, he became the second alum of Shorewood HS to reach the Majors, joining LHP Blake Snell. He made his Mariners debut last season with one appearance on 5/7 vs. Tampa Bay at T-Mobile Park (1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 K).
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 24, 2023
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