August 9, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Tacoma Rainiers (47-57) vs. Las Vegas Aviators (51-53)
Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 7:05 p.m. PT | Cheney Stadium: Tacoma, WA
RHP Konner Wade vs. RHP Parker Dunshee
TURN-R-OUND: Tacoma began this season 9-23 (through May 11), but are 38-34 since. The Rainiers’ low-water mark was 16 games under .500 at 28-44 on June 28. They’re 19-13 since while having won six of eight, are 9-6 post All-Star Break and 17-13 in the second half.
NICK OF TIME: LHP Nick Ramirez has emerged as Tacoma’s primary ninth inning option; his last five appearances have each been successful save opportunities dating to July 28. Ramirez has finished five of Tacoma’s last seven wins with very little drama: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, .167 BAA, 0.60 WHIP (0 BB), 5 K.
ASSIGNMENT BASED: Catcher Curt Casali enters the fourth game of a rehab assignment with Tacoma, that began with Sacramento before a trade deadline deal with San Francisco on 8/2 (Casali and LHP Matthew Boyd for RHP Michael Stryffeler and catcher Andy Thomas).
When Casali and newly-acquired Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo were together with the Cincinnati Reds (2018-2020), Casali caught the right-hander in 27 games, with these numbers: 169.0 IP, 2.61 ERA, 59 BB and 202 K. The Casali-Castillo battery limited hitters to a .191 average, a .269 OBP and a .571 OPS.
STEAL A BASE, STEAL A TACO(MA): Buffalo of the International League has re-taken the Triple-A lead in stolen bases (132) from Tacoma (130), who lead the Pacific Coast League. Rainiers outfielder Forrest Wall is second in the PCL in steals with 32. Last season, Wall stole 35 bases for Buffalo while in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, third-most in the IL (Triple-A East).
Wall is the first Rainiers player to steal 30 bases in a season since Ian Miller in 2018 (33), and if he reaches 40, would be the first Tacoma Triple-A player to do so since Lance Blankenship swiped 40 for the 1988 Tacoma Tigers (Oakland A’s)…four players are tied at 40 for the fourth-most steals in a single season in franchise history. Jimmy Sexton (56, 1981 Tigers), Rusty McNealy (43, 1983 Tigers) and Del Alston (43, 1979 Tugs) own the top three stealing seasons in Tacoma’s Triple-A history.
MEJIA MASHED: Last week at SAC, Rainiers INF/OF Erick Mejia was 7-for-17 (.412) with a homer (12), four RBI, four runs and two walks.
LEGACY ADMISSION: When Seattle claimed outfielder Derek Hill off waivers from the Detroit Tigers on August 5 and…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Pacific Coast League PCL News…