LAS VEGAS, NV (August 4, 2026 ) — The Tacoma Rainiers (12-22/45-64) erased a four-run deficit on Tuesday night, but the Las Vegas Aviators (19-15/62-44) hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to take the series opener at Las Vegas Ballpark. Lazaro Montes recorded his first multi-homer game with Tacoma, accounting for two of the Rainiers four long balls. Patrick Wisdom connected on his league-leading 28th home run of the season, while Brock Rodden hit his career-high 15th homer of the season in the loss.
There was not much offense early in Tuesday’s matchup. Carson Fulmer did not allow a hit over the first three innings of the game, working one over the minimum. Ryan Magdic worked around a single and an error in the first three frames for Las Vegas.
Tacoma threw the first punch in the top of the fourth inning when Wisdom (28) crushed a solo home run to straightaway center field, giving Tacoma a 1-0 lead.
The Aviators jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning, getting it done with two outs. Joey Meneses and Darell Hernaiz hit back-to-back singles with two gone, putting runners at the corners. Brayan Buelvas kept it going, pulling a two-run double down the third base line to drive in two, putting Las Vegas on top, 2-1.
Las Vegas added on in the bottom of the fifth inning. The first three batters of the inning all reached base as Jack Winkler singled, Jared Dickey walked and Zack Gelof (5) hit a three-run home run to left field, padding the Aviators lead at 5-1. Meneses followed with a double off the left field wall, knocking Fulmer out of the game. Nick Garcia took over, retiring his first batter to finish the frame.
Tacoma pulled closer in the top of the sixth inning. Michael Arroyo led off the frame with a walk, and two batters later, Lazaro Montes (4) connected on a two-run home run to right-center field to make it a 5-3 game.
Las Vegas got both runs back in the bottom of the frame. Buelvas reached on a leadoff single, advancing to second base as Winkler reached on an error. Dickey capitalized on it, hitting a two-run triple to the left-center field gap, pushing the Aviators advantage to 7-3.
The Rainiers rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game. Brock Rodden (15) hit Tacoma’s third home run of the night to lead off the frame, getting Tacoma within 7-4. After Arroyo beat out an infield single for his second hit of the night, Montes (5) drilled his second home run of the game, a two-run blast to right-center field, getting Tacoma within one a 7-6. Joe kept the momentum going with a walk, his third time reaching base. With two outs, Jakson Reetz singled and a wild pitch moved Joe up to third base. Nick Raposo tied the game with an RBI single back up the middle, knotting the game at seven.
Tacoma’s rally was snuffed out in the bottom of the inning, though. Cole Conn (1) and Winkler (7) hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the frame, putting Las Vegas back in front, 9-7. Drew Swift worked a two-out walk and later scored on a Michael Stefanic RBI single, though Stefanic was cut down at second base by Montes in right field to end the inning with Las Vegas in front 10-7.
In the top of the ninth inning, Arroyo picked up his third hit of the night with a one-out single. Montes drove him in for his fifth RBI of the night on a run-scoring double just shy of the wall in right-center field to make it 10-8. Joe walked, reaching base for the fourth time in the game, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. The Aviators were able to hang on, though, winning the series opener 10-8.
Tacoma looks to snap their six-game losing streak on Wednesday, with first pitch slated for 7:05 PM at Las Vegas Ballpark. RHP Casey Lawrence is scheduled to get the start for the Rainiers.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- INF Patrick Wisdom connected on his league-leading 28th home run of the season on Tuesday night…Wisdom’s 28 home runs are the most for a Rainiers hitter through 109 games since at least 2005…his six home runs at Las Vegas are also the most for any opposing player this season…the home run snapped a three-game home run drought for Wisdom, only the sixth time this season Wisdom has gone three games without a home run
- OF Lazaro Montes tallied his first multi-homer game of his Triple-A career on Tuesday, now hitting 30 home runs on the season, including his time with Double-A Arkansas…it’s the 14th multi-homer game of Montes’ career and fourth of the season…Montes is the eighth minor league hitter since 2015 to tally consecutive 30-homer seasons.
- Montes also tallied his fifth outfield assist with Tacoma on Tuesday, throwing out Michael Stefanic at second base in the ninth inning…his five outfield assist are tied for the fourth-most among Triple-A right fielders this season…since his promotion to Triple-A on July 7, Montes leads all Triple-A outfielders with five outfield assists.
- INF Brock Rodden hit his 15th home run of the season on Tuesday, setting a new career-high…he surpassed the 14 homers he hit in 2024 with Everett and Arkansas.
- INF/OF Michael Arroyo recorded his fourth three-hit game of his Triple-A career on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored…Arroyo’s 32 hits since his Triple-A debut on July 7 are the second-most in the league.
- The Rainiers connected on four home runs on Tuesday night, giving them 17 at Las Vegas this season…Tacoma’s 17 homers in Las Vegas are the most by any opponent at Las Vegas Ballpark in 2026…Tacoma’s 76 home runs since June 9 are the most in Triple-A.