Recent Game Notes:

Courtesy of the Tacoma Rainiers

Memphis Redbirds (67-59) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (62-66)
At  Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, WA.

        RHP Jose Jimenez (1-0, 1.50)  vs.  RHP Kevin Hodges (2-3, 3.80)
        Yesterday's Game: Tacoma Rainiers 2, Colorado Springs Sky Sox 1

RAINIERS SWEEP SKY SOX, PULL CLOSER TO .500: The Rainiers completed a four 
game series sweep of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Tuesday with a 2-1 win.  
Francisco Matos' two-out bases loaded infield single brought home Charles 
Gipson with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Ken Cloude 
was dominant on the mound, pitching 7.1 no-hit innings before Derrick Gibson 
tripled off the wall in right to end the no-hit bid.  The win brought the 
Rainiers within four games of the .500 mark, the first time they have been 
this close since April 28 when they were 8-12.

RAINIERS FACE THEIR FRIENDS FROM MEMPHIS: The Tacoma Rainiers start a four 
game series with Memphis tonight.  The Rainiers took three of four from the 
Redbirds at Tim McCarver Stadium July 4-7.  After losing the opener, the 
Rainiers teed off on Cardinals super-prospect Rick Ankiel, scoring six runs 
off the 19-year old in 4.2 innings.  The Rainiers smacked eight home runs in 
the four game series.  Since the teams last faced each other, Memphis has 
promoted Ankiel and second baseman Adam Kennedy, while the Rainiers have 
advanced Ozzie Timmons and Ryan Jackson.

RAINIERS RUNNING WILD:  Since the start of the Pan American Games ravaged the 
Rainiers roster in mid-July, Tacoma manager Dave Myers has instituted a new 
running style of offense.  It has paid tremendous dividends in the Colorado 
Springs series, as Tacoma ran amok on the basepaths.  Tacoma stole 11 bases 
in the four games, getting caught only three times.  Charles Gipson and Mike 
Murphy were both 5-6 in base stealing attempts during the series.  Monday 
night the Rainiers matched a season high by swiping six bags, a feat they 
also accomplished in Tucson on May 8.

T-TOWN TIDBITS:  Dave Myers has moved into first place as the winningest 
manager in Tacoma baseball history with a 283-271 career recordˇ Tacoma 
pitchers  combined to strike out 43 batters in the four games of the Colorado 
Springs seriesˇ Shane Monahan has not committed an error all season (198 
chances)ˇCharles Gipson is 6-16 with a triple and five stolen bases during 
the first four games of his rehabilitation assignment. Gipson suffered a 
separated shoulder during the Mariners-Dodgers brawl July 10ˇMike Murphy is 
batting .324 over his last 21 games (22-68)ˇSean Spencer has not allowed a 
run in his last seven appearances, covering a span of 6.1 innings.  He has 
struck out 11 and surrendered just three hits during that time.  Left-handed 
batters are just 7-36 (.194) with 15 strikeouts against the lefty from Port 
OrchardˇRafael Carmona has allowed just one run in his last nine games, 
covering 10 inningsˇ The season sweep by the Rainiers over the Albuquerque 
Dukes (4/8-4/11, 7/27-7/30) marked the first time in 40 years of Tacoma 
baseball in which that has been doneˇ The team has won 22 of its last 31 
games and is now 4 games under the .500 mark.  The Rainiers have not been 
within three games of .500 since April 25 (7-10).  The Rainiers have won 16 
of the last 21 home games. 


IT HAPPENED TODAY IN TACOMA BASEBALL HISTORY:
August 26, 1962ˇ Longtime Tacoma pitcher Dick LeMay hurls a seven inning 
no-hitter for the Tacoma Giants against the Vancouver Mounties.  LeMay walks 
the first batter of the game and then sets down 21 consecutive hitters in the 
Giants 4-0 victory.

PROBABLE PITCHERS FOR UPCOMING GAMES:
Day L/R, Tacoma Pitcher L/R, Opposing Pitcher
Friday  RHP, Ryan Franklin (5-8, 4.70)  LHP, Kris Detmers (4-8, 5.07)
Saturday    RHP, Brett Hinchliffe (9-7, 5.07)   RHP, Mark Thompson (4-2, 2.60)
Sunday  RHP, Melvin Bunch (9-1, 3.27)   RHP, Mike Busby (3-4, 6.75)

REHABILITATING RAINIERS HELPING OUT: The Rainiers are currently featuring 
three major league players on rehabilitation.  Charles Gipson is coming back 
from a separated right shoulder, and he has boosted the offense by going 6-16 
with five stolen bases in the three games of his rehab so far.  His bunt 
single ignited the Rainiers 8th inning rally which lead to Tuesday's 2-1 win. 
 Butch Henry, coming back from a torn labrum in his left (pitching) shoulder, 
worked a shutout inning last night.   The Rainiers expect to see Eric Weaver 
continue his rehab.  Weaver is coming back from bone chip surgery on his 
right elbow.

SOMEWHERE, ERNIE BANKS IS ANGRY: By mutual agreement of the Farm Directors of 
the Seattle Mariners and the Anaheim Angels, the Rainiers and Edmonton will 
NOT be playing a doubleheader in Edmonton on August 31.  The twinbill was 
originally scheduled due to the rainout of May 21, but since both teams are 
eliminated from the pennant race the clubs have agreed to not make up the 
lost game.  A single game will be played at 6:05 PST.  

RAMSAY TO TRY HIS HAND AT RELIEF: Tacoma pitcher Robert Ramsay has been moved 
to the bullpen at the request of the Seattle Mariners Front Office.  The 
lefty from Washington State University has been none short of dominant since 
being acquired by the Mariners from Boston in the Butch Huskey trade.  In 
five starts since the trade, Ramsay has gone 4-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 37 
strikeouts in 33.1 innings.  In his last start Ramsay struck out 14 Colorado 
Springs Sky Sox over the course of seven innings.  The Mariners are preparing 
Ramsay for a possible look in the major league bullpen this September.  Ryan 
Franklin will take his spot in the rotation.

"JUMBLE" SOLUTION: AKERS = RAKES: Tacoma utility player Chad Akers tied the 
34-year-old club record of 26 consecutive games with a hit when he reached on 
an infield single in the first game of the doubleheader with Calgary on 
August 16.  With the base hit Akers tied the record established by Rex 
Johnston in 1965 with the Tacoma Giants. Akers streak was snapped in the 
nightcap, as he went 0x2 with three walks in five plate appearances. Calgary 
right fielder Benji Gil made a diving catch to rob Akers of a base hit in the 
seventh inning.  Akers has the longest hitting streak in the PCL this year. 
The PCL record is 61, set by Joe Dimaggio in 1933 with the San Francisco 
Seals.  Akers continued his success at the plate since the streak ended, 
hitting safely in five more before taking an 0-4 against Colorado Springs on 
August 22.  All told, Akers hit safely in 31 of 32 games (.364, 48-132), with 
only Gil's diving catch preventing him from hitting in 32 straight.  Akers 
joined the Rainiers on July 15 from the Atlantic City Surf of the independent 
Atlantic League.  Playing for Fargo in the independent Northern League in 
1997, Akers set the Northern League record by batting safely in 27 
consecutive games.  The utility player has started games in right, center, 
and left field, as well as third base, second base, shortstop and designated 
hitter.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: 
Date    Opponent    Promotion               
August 27   Memphis Mt. Rainier Celebration Fireworks
August 28   Memphis Milgard Windows Megaphone Night
August 29   Memphis Final Home Game Of 1999

THEY REPRESENTED THE WORLD:  Recently five Tacoma Rainiers players traveled 
to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to participate in the 1999 Pan American Games 
to compete for their native countries.  The Pan Am Games served as the 
qualifying tournament for the America's (North, Central, South) for a spot in 
the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.  David Holdridge and Todd Williams 
competed for Team USA, Ryan Radmanovich with Team Canada, and Maximo De La 
Rosa and Francisco Matos with the Dominican Republic.  Cuba and the USA 
finished with the Gold and Silver Medals respectively, earning a spot in the 
2000 games.  Canada finished with the Bronze Medal, falling just short of the 
2000 games.