TACOMA, WA (August 27, 2026) — The Tacoma Rainiers (26-28/59-70) used a four-run eighth inning to take a 6-2 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (19-34/58-69) Thursday night. Nick Raposo’s RBI single gave Tacoma the lead in the eighth and Michael Arroyo capped it off with a two-run home run. Victor Labrada hit his ninth home run of the season in the third inning and reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances while Lazaro Montes recorded the first multi-steal game of his career. The Rainiers’ bullpen combined for 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while walking none and striking out five.
Salt Lake scored early for the third consecutive night, getting on the board when Raudi Rodriguez (2) led off the second inning with a solo shot over the right field wall, making it 1-0.
Tacoma evened the score in the bottom of the third inning. Victor Labrada (9) lined a leadoff homer 102.8 mph over the right field wall to get the Rainiers on the board and make it 1-1.
The Bees retook the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Cade Marlowe dropped a single into left field to lead off the frame and Ben Gobbel replaced him at first as he grounded into a fielder’s choice. Nelson Rada walked to put runners on first and second, and after Kyren Paris struck out, Pablo Reyes smacked a single off the base of the left field wall, plating Gobbel to give Salt Lake a 2-1 lead.
Tacoma tied it again in the home half of the fifth inning. Andy Ibáñez ripped a leadoff single into left and advanced to second when the next batter, Labrada, worked a walk. After Nick Raposo struck out, Ryan Bliss walked on four pitches to load the bases. Two batters later, Michael Arroyo drew the third walk of the inning, forcing Ibáñez home and knotting the score at two.
After Carson Fulmer exited the game in the fifth inning, Reid VanScoter struck out Cade Marlowe to end the frame and set down the first two Bees in the sixth before turning the ball over to Nick Davila. Davila got Reyes to line out to end the inning and held the Bees scoreless in the seventh. Robinson Ortiz got the ball for the eighth and set down the side in order, striking out the final two batters.
The Rainiers took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ibáñez drew a walk to lead off the frame and Labrada laid down a bunt single. The pair advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, and then, Nick Raposo hit a single into shallow center field that pushed Labrada up to third and scored Ibáñez to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead. The next batter, Bliss, brought home Labrada with a sacrifice fly, doubling the lead and making it 4-2. After Leo Rivas struck out, Arroyo (8) crushed a two-run blast over the left field wall to make it 6-2 Rainiers.
Salt Lake entered the top of the ninth inning needing four runs to stay alive. They managed one baserunner but failed to score as Tacoma secured a 6-2 victory in the third game of the six-game set.
The Rainiers will attempt to take a 3-1 series lead Friday. RHP Nolan Kingham gets the ball for his third start with Tacoma and first pitch is set for 7:05 PM.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- OF Victor Labrada hit his ninth home run of the season in the third inning Thursday, finishing 2-for-2 with a home run, RBI, two walks, and two runs scored…Labrada has now walked in six consecutive games, tied for the longest active streak in the PCL and the third-longest streak by a Rainiers hitter this season…he also extended his on-base streak to 11-games, tying his longest streak of the season (also: 11 from July 1-19)...Labrada also reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances Thursday night, marking his second time doing so this season (also: May 2 against Las Vegas).
- OF Lazaro Montes swiped two bags Thursday night, setting a new single-game career-high…he now has eight stolen bases on the season (three with Tacoma and five with Double-A Arkansas), setting a new single-season career-high.
- INF/OF Michael Arroyo hit a two-run shot in the eighth inning Thursday, marking his eighth with Tacoma this season…he finished 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, a walk, and a run scored…since being promoted to Triple-A on July 7, his 35 RBI are tied for the third-most in the PCL and 46 hits are tied for the sixth-most while his eight home runs, 18 extra-base hits, and 31 runs scored are all tied for seventh.
- INF/OF Connor Joe walked twice Thursday night, extending his on-base streak to a team-high 24-games…24 is the second-longest active streak in the PCL and the longest on-base streak by a Rainiers player since Harry Ford reached safely in 28 consecutive games from July 18-August 30, 2025…since the streak started on July 28, Joe has walked 22 times compared to only 14 strikeouts and his .466 OBP ranks fifth in the league.