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What's that saying about when things are looking up? Just when you've got a handle on your problems, you typically crash back down to reality? What goes around comes around? No, that's not it. Murphy's Law? Well, kind of. Maybe.

Whatever the saying, it does a pretty good job of summing up the Rainiers 2011 season so far.

Thursday night, the Rainiers (11-18) won their first series of the year, taking three out of four games from the Tucson Padres. Everything looked good. The team had won seven out of their last ten games. Relief pitchers were getting outs. Mike Carp could actually hit the ball. $2 MGD flowed liberally through the stands. For the first time this season, fans at Cheney felt optimistic that everything might work out. 

And then BOOM. Nothing like a 14-3 trouncing to send you back to reality.  Last night, the Las Vegas 51s scored in every inning after the fourth.  Dudes named Ryan (Budde and Shealy) hit homeruns. A dude named Brett (Lawrie, no relation) hit a grand slam. Instead of beer flowing through the stands, tears ran down the cheeks of fans. Reality is a harsh, harsh maiden. Especially baseball reality.

-If anything nice can be found in last night's trouncing, and that's a big ‘if,' it's that Dustin Ackley hit his fourth home run of the season.  This dinger wasn't too far removed from his grand slam earlier in the week. It's great to see Ackley heating up at the plate. But it could mean he might soon be headed somewhere else... somewhere far, far away from the humble lights of Cheney.   

-Along with third baseman Brett Lawrie, the Vegas 51s have a starting pitcher named Brett. Brett Cecil earned the win Friday night.  Normally, I feel a meaningful, spiritual connection with people named Brett. Especially when their name is spelled with two t's. But it pained me to watch a couple of Bretts help ravage the Rainiers.

-The 51s are the minor league affiliate to the Toronto Blue Jays. I guess that helps soften the blow of a 14-3 loss. I guess.  

The Rainiers look to redeem themselves against the 51s tonight at Cheney Stadium. Game time is 7:05 p.m..

Sunday's game is a special Pink at the Park day. For Pink at the Park, the Rainiers players don pink jerseys on the field that are later auctioned off to raise awareness of breast cancer. The proceeds of that auction go to support the Carol Milgard Breast Center. This is cool for a couple of reasons - not the least of which is the opportunity to watch Mike Carp play baseball in a pink jersey.