Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes: vs. Salt Lake (7:05 p.m. PT)
July 1, 2022 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Tacoma Rainiers (30-44) vs. Salt Lake Bees (35-40)
Friday, July 1, 2022, 7:05 p.m. PT | Cheney Stadium: Tacoma, WA
RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon vs. RHP Janson Junk
MEJIA MASH: Tacoma INF/OF Erick Mejia is 13-for-29 (.448) during his last seven games (2 HR, 5 doubles). Mejia is OPSing 1.313 during this span (dating to June 22), as he's reaching base at a .485 clip since 6/22 (3 BB) and slugging .828 over his last 33 plate appearances.
#SeaUsRise: The selection of outfielder Marcus Wilson to the Major League roster on Wednesday made him the 20th player to be promoted from Tacoma to Seattle this season; he made his MLB debut Wednesday at T-Mobile Park against Baltimore, drawing a walk as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, and playing right field in the ninth (one putout). Two promotions earlier this season were also big league debuts (RHP Penn Murfee and LHP Danny Young). Last season, 24 players earned an in-season promotion from the Rainiers to Mariners, with six big league debuts (RHP Logan Gilbert, OF Jarred Kelenic, C Jose Godoy, OF Dillon Thomas, RHP Vinny Nittoli and RHP Darren McCaughan).
SPEED CLOCKED AT 100: Entering today's action Tacoma is one of only six Triple-A clubs with 100 combined triples and stolen bases (112, 15/97): Only Reno (115, 22/93) has more, joining Buffalo (109, 8/101), Indianapolis (107, 25/82), Salt Lake (106, 20/86) and Sugar Land (101, 18/83) over the century mark. While Buffalo is the only club with more stolen bases than the Rainiers (101 to 97) entering today, their need for speed is especially necessary, as the Bisons have hit only 43 home runs, the fewest in Triple-A by 23. Meanwhile Tacoma has 104 homers, which ranks fifth at the level.
I'M TREY AMBURGEY?: Outfielder Trey Amburgey made his Tacoma Rainiers debut on Wednesday, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds and Triple-A Louisville (IL) last weekend. While with the New York Yankees, Amburgey reached base in 42 consecutive games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL), setting their franchise record (8/26/19-7/10/21).
HE'S AN O'K PLAYER: Homering last night (2-for-4), Tacoma catcher/designated hitter Brian O'Keefe has reached base with either a walk or base hit in 33 of the 38 games he's played this season, after returning from a broken hamate bone on 4/27 at Las Vegas. O'Keefe is batting .287 with a .904 OPS (.366/.538), with seven home runs, 20 extra-base hits and 17 walks since returning to action. He's driving in a run once every two games (19 RBI/38 GP).
LOCAL JUNK: Tonight's Salt Lake starting pitcher Janson Junk is a native of Federal Way, WA and a graduate of Decatur High School, its first alum to reach the Major Leagues. Junk pitched three seasons at Seattle University (2015-17) before being the Yankees' 22nd round draft pick in 2017. Last season on July 30, he was traded by the Yankees to the Angels while at Double-A, in a deadline deal along with RHP Elvis Peguero for RHP Andrew Heaney. Junk made his Major League debut last season on September 5 at Angel Stadium vs. Texas (3.2 IP, 1 ER), and has appeared in five MLB games between this year and last (4 starts, 17.1 IP). When Junk started on opening day at Tacoma (4/5/22), it was his first pro game at Cheney Stadium (3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K).
A WINNING BUZZ: Salt Lake (City) is one of three current PCL member locales that the Tacoma franchise (est. 1960) has an all-time winning record against (371-359-1, since 1960); the others are Las Vegas (287-283, since 1983) and Round Rock (46-27, since 2005). During the Rainiers era/Seattle affiliation (since 1995), Tacoma is 198-215 against the Salt Lake Buzz ('94-'00), Stingers ('01-'05) and Bees ('06-pres.), who were affiliated with the Minnesota Twins ('94-'00) prior to partnering with the Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim) in 2001.
DEFEND R HOUSE: During the most recent Rainiers homestand, Tacoma lasted seven complete games without committing an error, from the second inning at home on June 10 vs. Round Rock until the fifth inning on June 19 vs. Sacramento. It was a streak of 72 consecutive complete innings without a defensive miscue, spanning nine games. Tacoma's 46 errors as a club are second-fewest in the PCL behind Reno (44). In the Major Leagues, Seattle's 28 errors equal San Diego for fewest entering today.
REAL (MCCOY) BUSY JUNE: Rainiers infielder Mason McCoy is the only player on the club to have appeared in each of Tacoma's 26 games in June. McCoy reached base safely in 21 of 26 games last month, with a .349 OBP (3 HR, triple, 3 doubles, 12 BB, 16 runs scored).
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