The Rainiers and Colorado Spring Sky Sox play a doubleheader today at Security Service Field – it will be two seven-inning games.
The twinbill is a make-up for the June 26 postponement in Colorado Springs. That game was postponed due to smoke and ash from the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire (which has since been put out).
On Saturday night, the Sky Sox beat the Rainiers 3-1 in a pitcher’s duel between a couple of fairly inexperienced left-handers.
Tacoma strike-thrower Steve Garrison lasted seven innings, giving up just three runs. He threw 99 pitches and 75 were strikes – that is an excellent ratio.
Normally, seven innings and three runs allowed will get you a win in Colorado Springs. But that was not the case last night.
Sky Sox starter Nick Schmidt – making just his fourth Triple-A start – tossed six shutout innings in which he allowed only one hit. Darren Ford‘s third inning single was the only Tacoma hit until the ninth inning, when the Rainiers hit two singles and scored their lone run.
The Rainiers have lost six of the last seven games, falling a season-low 17 games under .500.
Today’s doubleheader starts at 3:05 (Pacific), and we’ll have both games for you on South Sound Sports 850 AM and streaming online right here. RHP Brian Sweeney (4-2, 5.02) faces RHP Guillermo Moscoso (5-5, 5.81) in game one, and in the second game it’s RHP David Pauley (2-0, 1.59) against RHP Cory Riordan (0-0, 6.75).
Links:
- We lead off with my Rainiers game story from The News Tribune.
- My Minor League Notebook for the paper has some notes on the red-hot Everett Aqua Sox, and some facts from the 18-inning game that you have already seen elsewhere (hint: on this blog).
- The Mariners are playing well on their road trip: Jason Vargas hurled a beauty, and the team is 4-2 going into the final game of the trip today.
- In this Mariners notebook, we learn that Erasmo Ramirez is likely to make a rehabilitation start for Tacoma on Wednesday afternoon against Tucson at Cheney Stadium.
- It’s time for Larry Stone’s Sunday baseball package at the Times. We have a column on Ichiro and the contract extension conundrum, a major league notebook about surprise contenders, power rankings, and thumbs up-and-down.
- Barry Larkin is being inducted into the Hall Of Fame today, and John McGrath saw him when he played in Triple-A.
- In the PCL, Sacramento ace Graham Godfrey took his first loss of the season. Jeremy Hermida and Tucson got him, 8-4.
- Fresno knocked off Salt Lake, 6-4.
- Most of the Las Vegas 51s pitchers have had elbow surgery. Vegas lost to Reno in the 11th inning last night as Jake Elmore had the game-winning RBI.
- In Albuquerque, Dukes Retro Night was a huge success on and off the field.
- New Orleans and Nashville played a doubleheader and… it was a split. Surprise!
- After a dismal start to the season, Memphis is playing better. Shortstop Ryan Jackson launched a grand slam in a 6-2 in over Oklahoma City last night.
- Omaha star Wil Myers is doing his thing down in Round Rock.
- Congratulations are in order for New Orleans Zephyrs GM Mike Schline, who makes the Times-Picayune’s “Power Players” list.
Today’s doubleheader will test my Theory Of Doubleheaders, which states simply that All Doubleheaders Are Splits. Wouldn’t mind being disproven as long as it’s disproven the right way, with a pair of Rainiers wins.
