August 30 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers @ El Paso Chihuahuas
TACOMA RAINIERS (72-57) @ EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS (50-79) Friday, August 30 • 5:35 PM PT • Southwest University Park • El Paso, TX LHP Jhonathan Diaz (9-2, 3.99) vs. RHP Nabil Crismatt (1-2, 6.27)
TACOMA RAINIERS (72-57) @ EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS (50-79)
Friday, August 30 • 5:35 PM PT • Southwest University Park • El Paso, TX
LHP Jhonathan Diaz (9-2, 3.99) vs. RHP Nabil Crismatt (1-2, 6.27)
TONIGHT’S GAME: Entering play tonight down three games to none in the series, Tacoma will send Jhonathan Diaz to the mound, looking to end the slide. Diaz enters play tonight with a 9-2 record and a 3.99 ERA through 22 games (21 starts), allowing 52 earned runs on 117 hits. He has walked 50 batters compared to striking out 120 in his 117.1 innings with the Rainiers, allowing opponents to hit .260 against him. In his lone game against El Paso this year, the southpaw earned a win, allowing five earned runs on three hits and two walks, striking out five over 5.0 innings. Opposite Diaz will be Nabil Crismatt taking the ball for the Chihuahuas, set to make his 13th start in his 23rd game this season at the Triple-A level, pitching in his 11th game (10th start) for El Paso. Through his first 10 games with the Chihuahuas, Crismatt is 1-2 with a 6.27 ERA, allowing 26 earned runs on 46 hits and 16 walks while striking out 31 batters over 37.1 innings pitched. He has faced Tacoma twice this year, both as a member of the Round Rock Express back in June. He came out of relief on both June 14 and 16, allowing four earned runs on seven hits including a home run. He walked one and struck out one over his 2.0 combined innings.
BLISSFUL: Since returning to Tacoma on August 13, Ryan Bliss has been seeing the ball well. The middle infielder has recorded at least one hit in 12 of his 15 games since returning to the Rainiers, hitting .316 (18-for-57) with nine runs scored, six doubles, a home run and four runs batted in. He has struck out 13 times over that stretch, but has drawn 11 walks, increasing his on-base percentage to .429. Last night, Bliss went 2-for-3 with two doubles, the only player for Tacoma to record a multi-hit game and the only two extra-base hits the Rainiers had all night.
JUST ONE FRAME: Casey Lawrence looked good through five innings last night, pitching with a three-run lead and holding El Paso’s offense off the board. The first three batters of the sixth inning reached base for the Chihuahuas, as back-to-back singles followed by a double plated their first run. A ground out recorded the first out of the inning and kept runners at second and third, but El Paso scored a second run on a sacrifice fly. With two outs in the inning, Lawrence had a good chance to record a quality start and leave the game with the lead, but the third out troubled him. He walked Brett Sullivan to extend the inning and then allowed a three-run home run to Elias Diaz, capping off a five-run frame. The five runs were all El Paso scored all night but were enough to earn them their third straight victory over Tacoma.
START A NEW ONE: Recently optioned outfielder Dominic Canzone played in his first game with Tacoma since Seattle optioned him to Triple-A. Canzone had played nine games with the Rainiers entering last night’s contest over two different Major League rehab stints. Before last night’s game, he had recorded at least one hit in each game, entering play with a nine-game hitting streak with the Rainiers. He was held hitless for the first time in Triple-A this year, going 0-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and a strikeout. Despite going 0-for-3 last night, Canzone is still hitting .342 (13-for-38) with Tacoma this year, clubbing three doubles and three home runs while driving in seven runs, taking three walks and five strikeouts. Canzone will look to start a new hitting streak in tonight’s game and help propel the Rainiers offense past the Chihuahuas.
TIED AT THE TOP: Ryan Bliss stole another base last night, giving him one in each of the past two games against El Paso. His two stolen bases over the past two nights raises his total on the season with Tacoma to 42, tying teammate Samad Taylor for the team lead among active players. Cade Marlowe, who was placed on the injured list yesterday, has the overall team and Pacific Coast League lead with 43, but now both Bliss and Taylor are within striking distance. Tacoma has led the PCL all year long in swiped bags, entering play tonight with 250, 82 more than El Paso, who has the second-most among the 10 teams in the league. They are 31 stolen bases short of tying the 1981 Albuquerque Dukes for the modern-era PCL record with 21 games to play.
END THE SLIDE: Last night’s loss to El Paso made it three straight to the Chihuahuas and five in a row overall. Their five straight losses ties a season high, set back from April 18-23 when they lost four straight games to Las Vegas and the first game of the series to the Chihuahuas. This series has come as a surprise, as Tacoma leads the PCL West overall with a 72-57 record, eight wins shy of the most in the PCL. El Paso is at the opposite end of the standings, holding a record of 50-79 entering play tonight, last in the PCL East and the lowest number of wins in the league overall. Despite being at opposite ends of the standings, the best the Rainiers can hope for is now a series split against the Chihuahuas.
AGAINST EL PASO: Tacoma and El Paso will play game four of their current six-game series and game 10-of-12 between the two teams this year tonight. This is the first series of the year between the two teams at Southwest University Park, as the Rainiers took four-of-six from El Paso when the two teams met back in April at Cheney Stadium. With three straight losses to El Paso, Tacoma now trails the season series five games to four and leads the all-time series by just one game, at 68-67.
SHORT HOPS: Ryan Bliss with 2-for-3 with two doubles last night, marking the first time a Rainiers player has doubled twice in the same game since Bliss did so back on July 24 against Oklahoma City…Jonathan Hernandez and Cody Bolton allowed just one baserunner (walk) over 2.0 combined scoreless innings, striking out two batters along the way.
River Cats Hit Late Grand Slam to Beat Rainiers 7-5
TACOMA, WA (May 10, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (14-24) erased an early 3-0 deficit, but could not come back again in a 7-5 loss to the Sacramento River Cats (18-20) on Saturday night at Cheney Stadium in front of a crowd of 7,014. Sacramento got on the board in
Tacoma Scores Season-High 11 Runs in Third-Straight Victory
TACOMA, WA (May 9, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (14-23) won their third-straight game over the Sacramento River Cats (17-20), scoring a season-high 11 runs in an 11-2 victory in front of a season-high crowd of 7,102. The 11-2 win goes down as the largest margin of victory for the
Rainiers Rally to Score 7-5 Victory Over River Cats
TACOMA, WA (May 8, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (13-23) trailed 4-1 after the top of the third inning, but rallied to pick up their seventh comeback win in a 7-5 victory over the Sacramento River Cats (17-19). Sacramento opened the scoring in the first inning. After Grant McCray grounded
Tacoma Beats Sacramento 3-0 for First Shutout Victory of 2025
TACOMA, WA (May 7, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (12-23) snapped their nine-game losing streak with their first shutout victory of the season, topping the Sacramento River Cats (17-18) by a score of 3-0. Sauryn Lao started the game for the Rainiers and allowed just three hits over 2.1 scoreless
Rainiers Fall 4-2 to River Cats in Pitcher's Duel
RAINIERS FALL 4-2 TO RIVER CATS IN PITCHER'S DUEL TACOMA, WA (May 6, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-23) allowed three runs on four extra-base hits in the sixth inning as they lost the series opener 4-2 to the Sacramento River Cats (17-17), taking their ninth-straight loss. Tacoma got on
Dominic Canzone Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week
TACOMA, WA (May 5, 2025) - Dominic Canzone hammered the baseball last week in Las Vegas, clubbing his way to Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors for April 29-May 4, the league announced on Monday. Canzone, 27, went 7-for-19 (.368 average) with one double, four home runs, six
Tacoma Unable to Overcome Early Deficit in 8-5 Loss to Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV (May 3, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-21) dropped game five in Las Vegas with an 8-5 loss to Aviators (22-10) on Saturday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Las Vegas scored all eight runs on the night between the first and second inning. After sending ten
Canzone Homers Twice in 6-4 Loss to Las Vegas on Sunday
LAS VEGAS, NV (May 4, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-22) were swept in a six-game series with the Las Vegas Aviators (23-10) after a 6-4 loss in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. Tacoma struck first in the series finale after a two-run homer from Dominic Canzone. Cole Young
Hunt Homers in 5-2 Loss to Aviator
LAS VEGAS, NV (May 2, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-20) dropped the series with 5-2 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators (21-10) on Friday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Tacoma took the lead first in game four of the series bringing in the first run to score. Colin
Shenton Smokes Fifth Homer in 10-3 Loss to Aviators, Tacoma Drops Fifth-Straight
LAS VEGAS, NV (May 1, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-19) dropped fifth-straight with a 10-3 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators (20-10) on Thursday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Las Vegas jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Zack Gelof led off
Canzone Crushes Second Homer of Series in 7-5 Loss to Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 30, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-18) dropped an early lead with 7-5 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators (19-10) on Wednesday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Tacoma took an early lead in the second inning. After being retired in order in the first, back-to-back
Rainiers Fall in Walk-Off Fashion to Las Vegas, 5-4 on Tuesday Night
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 29, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-17) dropped the series opener with 5-4 walk-off loss to the Las Vegas Aviators (18-10) on Tuesday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Tacoma struck first early in the top of the second inning. After being set down in order
Tacoma Drops Series Finale to Sugar Land in 8-3 Loss
TACOMA, WA (April 27, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-16) dropped their series finale in an 8-3 loss to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (13-14) on Sunday afternoon, dropping four out of six games in the series. Sugar Land opened the scoring in the first inning, as Shay Whitcomb hit
Tacoma Shutout for the First Time in 2025 in 2-0 Loss
TACOMA, WA (April 26, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-15) were shutout for the first time in 41 games in a 2-0 loss to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-14) in front of a season-high crowd of 6,895. Sauryn Lao retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before
Tacoma Pitchers Hold Sugar Land to Four Hits in 3-2 Victory
TACOMA, WA (April 24, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (11-14) allowed just two runs on four hits, taking the third game of their series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-14) by a 3-2 margin. Sugar Land opened the scoring in the first inning. After Zach Short lined out to
Rainiers Fall 7-6 to Space Cowboys in 10 Innings
TACOMA, WA (April 24, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (10-14) lost the third game of their series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-13) by a score of 7-6 in 10 innings. Tacoma got on the board first in the second inning. Tyler Locklear opened the inning with a single,
Rainiers Pitchers Strike Out Season-High 15 in 10-3 Victory
TACOMA, WA (April 23, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (10-13) snapped their four game losing streak with a 10-3 victory over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-13) on Wednesday night. In the process, Tacoma pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts, setting a new season high. Sugar Land opened the scoring on
Rainiers Allow Four-Run Sixth Inning in Loss to Sugar Land
TACOMA, WA (April 22, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (9-13) dropped the opening game of their six-game series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-12) on Tuesday afternoon by a final score of 4-1, despite out-hitting the Space Cowboys eight to three. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning.
Rainiers Swept in Twin Bill with Comets on Sunday
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 20, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (9-12) were swept in a twin bill with the Oklahoma City Comets (14-7) after falling 8-4 in game one and 4-3 (8) in game two at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. With the two wins, the Comets secured the series taking four
Rainiers and Comets Postponed on Saturday
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 19, 2025) - Saturday's game between the Tacoma Rainiers (9-10) and the Oklahoma City Comets (12-7) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader tomorrow, Sunday, April 20. First pitch for game one
Rainiers Fall Short on Friday in 4-3 Loss to Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 18, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (9-10) fall 4-3 to the Oklahoma City Comets (11-8) in game four of the series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. With the loss, the series is now split at two apiece. The Comets struck first in the bottom of the second
Tacoma Takes Thursday Night Thriller with 5-4 Win Over Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 17, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (9-9) scored in the ninth to edge a 5-4 win over the Oklahoma City Comets (11-7) on Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Comets struck first in the third inning after a two-out double from Esteury Ruiz put one
Castillo Spins Five Scoreless Frames in 3-1 Loss to Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 16, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (8-9) fell 3-1 to the Oklahoma City Comets (11-6) on Wednesday afternoon to even the series at one apiece. Dominant pitching for both sides kept all offense at bay up until the bottom of the sixth inning in game two.
Evans Fans Seven in 5-2 Win Over Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 15, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers (8-8) won third-straight contest with 5-2 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets (10-6) in the series opener on Tuesday night. The scoring was silent on either side through two innings to start. Tony Goslin set down six straight on Major
Logan Evans Named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week
TACOMA, WA (April 14, 2025) — Logan Evans struck out a season-high seven batters on Wednesday, earning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors for April 7-13, the league announced Monday. Evans, the Mariners’ No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline, tossed 6.0 innings of one-run baseball against Sacramento on