June 14 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers at Round Rock Express

June 14, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

TACOMA RAINIERS (36-30) @ ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (33-32)

Friday, June 14 – 5:15 PM PT – Dell Diamond – Round Rock, TX

RHP Chris Jefferson (0-1, 6.75) vs. RHP Owen White (1-3, 5.04)

TONIGHT’S GAME: Tacoma and Round Rock are set to play game four of their six-game series, with another bullpen day on tap for the Rainiers. Chris Jefferson will start the game, set to make his first-ever start in what will be his 90th game in professional baseball. The right-hander pitched on Wednesday night, allowing one walk while striking out two batters over a scoreless inning. Through three games with Tacoma this year, Jefferson is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, allowing two earned runs on one hit (home run), four walks and three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. On the other side, Owen White will take the ball for Round Rock, set to make his 10th start of the year. Through his first nine outings this year, the right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.04 ERA, allowing 25 earned runs on 46 hits and 24 walks, striking out 34 batters in his 44.2 innings pitched. White faced Tacoma twice last year, both at Cheney Stadium. On July 16, he allowed just one hit and four walks while striking out two over 4.0 innings, while on Sept. 21, he allowed three earned runs on five hits including one home run, three walks and five strikeouts over 4.1 frames.

WHAT A PERFORMANCE: After not starting a game since May 23 and pitching just two innings of relief between that start and last night’s start, Michael Mariot dealt for the Rainiers last night. The right-hander picked up the entire pitching staff, delivering 5.1 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out five batters along the way, making arguably his best start of the season when the Rainiers needed it most. Tacoma has had both Tuesday’s scheduled starter (Jhonthan Diaz) and last night’s scheduled starter (Emerson Hancock) go up to Seattle and make spot-starts on those respective dates. Losing two starters and being one short coming into the series has put a lot of pressure on the bullpen of the Rainiers and the starting pitchers who remained. Mariot throwing 5.1 innings last night after 4.2 from Casey Lawrence on Wednesday has given Tacoma a chance in their two bullpen games Tuesday and tonight.

NOT ON HIS WATCH: Michael Perez was acquired by Seattle along with reliever Mike Baumann in a trade with the Baltimore that sent Blake Hunt to the Orioles back on May 22. Since then,…