The Tacoma Rainiers win the 2009 PCL

And I was there with a camera and a mission!

This is not any sort of ‘real’ game recap. I was originally going to title this “Baby’s First Rain Delay” because I love a team that plays in a cover-able field, and I have never actually been in a stadium with a tarp on the grass. But all that changed today.

We drove to Tacoma and were very early, since the traffic was not as bad as I would have thought. We killed some time at Target, and when it was about noon, went back to Cheney and got parking. Since Jessica is still walking with a cane, she has a disabled tag for their car, and we sat in the car and watched it rain. And rain. Just when we were near-convinced that our trip might not result in an actual baseball game, the gates opened, and the rain let up.

We got out of the car and hastily into the stadium, where Jered Wells was signing autographs. Jessica made me get my photo taken with him, and I rather inadvertently met @RainiersLand, though I didn’t know it until I sat down and started messing around with Jessica’s wireless. Also, Jered Wells is tall. She hasn’t sent me the photo yet, but I will post it when she does.

We got some food (giant mountain dogs!), and took our seats. My first tarped field!

The game was delayed for an hour, and we watched various things go on around the stadium, including the grounds crew rolling the tarp up when it was determined that the game should start. Shortly before the National Anthem, some guy streaked the field. Shorts down, business out. He made it all the way to the left field corner before the “security” finally figured out what he had just done, and I’m pretty sure he is currently looking at indecent exposure charges.

So the game started. Chris Shelton, whose fielding stance always makes me think he might have made a decent catcher:

Gaby Hernandez sizes up a Skysox batter:

Sal Fasano, the Skysox catcher. I could have tried to describe him, but nothing I could have said would have done him any justice. A photo is far better.

Matt Tuiasosopo over at second base today:

The game stayed within a run or two until the 8th inning, which was when the Skysox just started to FAIL. And I don’t mean just a little bit – they went through our batting order almost twice, allowing 7 runs on top of the 4 we already had. The game went from a manageable (for them) 4-2, to 11-2 in one inning. The Skysox walked into a bunt, which resulted in this:

This happened in the 7th. That’s Adam Moore walking back to the plate after a quick discussion with pitcher Mike Koplove, probably rolling his eyes the whole way, because the guy got the base.  Colorado really did do everything possible to try and win offensively, but defensively they were just worthless today. Outfielders allowing balls to drop in front of them, instead of making any attempt to catch them, wild pitches, numerous walks, intentional walks (this backfired on them at least twice). The 8th inning was when we made them pay, and there was just no hope of any sort of rally for them in the 9th with Robert Manuel on the mound. And because I knew you all couldn’t be there, I took a bit of video.

The last batter:

And the presentation of the banner for their victory:

I have never had a team I’ve been following avidly win anything, so this was really a wonderful game to be at.  The Sounders won the Open Cup recently, which is really cool, but I don’t follow them like I follow my Mariners and Rainiers, and I’m so proud of these guys I could just explode. Brandon and Jessica are going to switch off with me this upcoming Wednesday and Thursday to get to the other playoff games, so more baseball for me this week. I will miss two Angels games to see these, but this is something I really want to be at.

Also of some degree of interest was the fact that one of the girls who is currently in charge of two of the Mariners bullpen’s gladiator helmets was in the Jered Wells autograph line right ahead of us. And I know he’s done it before, but maybe this time a little more in honor of our pre-game streaker, Rhubarb put on a bit of a show:

I can hardly wait until Wednesday. We’ll be sitting above the bullpen area both nights, should be good fun! I really did attempt to take notes, but got totally lost in the game again. Follow @RainiersLand on Twitter for updates over the next two games, including starting pitchers and more accurate play information than their webiste can provide. Games should also be on 850AM in the Seattle/Tacoma area from what I understand.