No Rhubarb!

We here at No Rhubarb! usually spend our Monday nights at the Red Hot with various other bloggers and friends. Tonight we watched the final of the NCAA tournament, then followed that up with the most demented TV show ever. On the way home we flipped to KHHO to check up on the beloved Rainiers and hear the dulcet tones of Mike Curto. At that point Mike let us know that the Grizzlies four and five spot hitters (Scott McClain and Brett Harper) had accounted for nine RBIs.

As you might imagine, this is not a good sign. Tacoma could have used some of Sunday's rain as they were blasted, pummeled, obliterated... take your pick. The Grizzlies picked up a run in the second, two in the third and six in the fourth, racing to a 15-2 win at Cheney Stadium. Rainier starter Joe Woerman picked up the loss, giving up eight runs in 3 and 2/3 innings. Andrew Baldwin took over and didn't do much better, giving up seven runs in two innings. The only real bright spot for Tacoma was Jeff Clement's two-run double in the fourth.

The same two teams tomorrow. Hopefully it will go just a touch better for the hometown nine.

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Posted by frinklin at 12:08 AM | 0 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Fresno Grizzlies, Game Results, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Tacoma Rainiers

The Rainiers were blasted Saturday night in Sacramento. It could have been worse; the parent club Mariners lost 16-1 at home to Cincinnati.

Not a night to remember for Pacific Northwest Baseball.

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Posted by frinklin at 12:47 AM | 0 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Game Results, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Sacramento River Cats, Tacoma Rainiers

Okay, a little background: We were picking up dinner this evening, listening to Mike Curto call the game. It was 11-8 Tacoma in the sixth. We felt confident enough - despite the previous five innings of shaky Jake Woods – to abandon the game and watch the second half of the NBA Finals. That was a mistake, as the Cleveland – San Antonio match-up turned so deadly dull we started watching the MLS game between Colorado and Houston.

Imagine our surprise then, when we checked on the beloved Rainiers and found out that Colorado Springs managed to score 15 runs in the next three innings and win 23-11. As one might imagine, the bullpen was the culprit. Juan Sandoval gave up six runs in a third of an inning, Jamie Cerda gave up four in 1 and 1/3 innings, and Byron Embry gave up three in in 1 and 1/3.

The only good news? Our Favorite Rainier goes 4-4 with two homers and a double.

So yeah, just your average 34 run, three-hour baseball game in Colorado Springs.

Same two teams tomorrow – and it couldn't get much worse - at 6:05.

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Posted by frinklin at 11:07 PM | 1 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Game Results, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Our Favorite Rainier, Tacoma Rainiers

After yesterday's 12-0 demolition by Tucson, we wrote that "You could watch this game for a hundred years and not see a bigger beat down than this".

Except that the very same night the Lake Elsinore Storm managed to beat Lancaster 30-0.

30-0.

If you reach a score that would be a blowout in football, you've accomplished something.

Posted by frinklin at 6:24 PM | 1 comments Links to this post    
Labels: MegaSuperBeatDowns, Tacoma Rainiers

You could watch this game for a hundred years and not see a bigger beat down than this. It is one thing to give up 23 hits. It's another to be the victim of a five hit shutout. Both of 'em together? Well, batten down the hatches kiddies, it's gonna get ugly. Brad Thomas was killed in his second start this year, giving up seven runs in three innings. In desperation the Rainiers turned back to The Jim Parque Experiment, but he was wracked for 12 hits (12 hits? Seriously?) in 3 1/3. Sean Green, Jamie Cerda and Jon Huber eventually stopped the bleeding, but really. You know the old line about closing the barn door after various animals escape? Well, on Friday night the damned barn burned down.

More fun tomorrow at 1:35. Yusmeiro Petit (3-3, 6.97) against Jorge Campillo (2-4, 4.72).

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Update: Turns out this was the Chickadee's first visit to Cheney. Unfortunately baseball is a very superstitious sport, so if the Rainiers get obliterated the next time she visits, it probably means it's her fault. Just warning you Chick.

Posted by frinklin at 1:44 AM | 1 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Game Results, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Tacoma Rainiers, Tucson Sidewinders

Not every day you can win giving up nine runs. Not every day you play in the rare air of Albuquerque. Our Favorite Rainier had a day, going 3-6 with two homers. Wladimir Balentien hit his ninth homer, Mike Morse had three hits. Hell, every Rainier had at least one.

Things like that happen when score 19 on 21 hits. Jason Mackintosh registers his first Triple A win, going 4 1/3 in relief of Jorge Campillo. More fun at Isotopes Park tomorrow at 5:35. Rainier ace Justin Lehr (4-0, 2.55) takes the hill against The Great Unknown. In other words, the Isotopes haven't announced.

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Posted by frinklin at 1:41 AM | 1 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Albuquerque Isotopes, Game Results, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Tacoma Rainiers

So, remember last week when we lauded Jason Mackintosh for coming up from West Tennessee and making a spot start against Fresno? He basically went directly from the airport to Cheney Stadium, threw five scoreless innings against the Grizzlies in a losing effort. That was nice,wasn't it?

Today, not so much.

Jorge Campillo started this one for Tacoma and he had a fairly normal Jorge Campillo day. He did leave the game down 4-1, but he did go six innings. Mackintosh came in for the last three innings and managed to give up eight runs on eight hits in those three little innings.

Hope the weather is nice in Jackson.

Tomorrow night, a four-game series starts against Salt Lake. First pitch is 6:05. Justin Lehr (2-0, 2.79) against Pedro Lirano (1-3, 7.94). Life against the Bees just got a bit easier, as star infielder Brandon Wood has been called up to the major league Angels.

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Posted by frinklin at 10:45 PM | 0 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Game Results, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Salt Lake Bees, Tacoma Rainiers

This would be Massive Offensive Explosion Day for Tacoma. Jeff Clement hit his second Triple A Grand Slam, Wlad Balentien, Jeremy Reed and Jon Nelson had a pair of double each and the Rainiers just pulverized Las Vegas. Jorge Campillo went five, gave up 1 run on five hits, and didn't have to worry about this one. He evens his record at 2-2. Afternoon tilt Sunday at 12:05, Justin Lehr (1-0, 3.63) against the 51s starter DJ Houlton (2-0, 1.99).

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Posted by frinklin at 2:21 AM | 0 comments Links to this post    
Labels: Game Results, Las Vegas 51s, MegaSuperBeatDowns, Tacoma Rainiers