Tacoma Takes 6-3 Win in Series Opener at Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (September 1, 2026) — The Tacoma Rainiers (30-28/63-70) took the series opener over the Albuquerque Isotopes (26-32/65-68) with a 6-3 victory on Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. The Rainiers scored four runs in the fifth inning and strong pitching from the bullpen to win their fifth straight game.

Tacoma got the offense started in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Andy Ibáñez worked a walk and scored on a Miles Mastrobuoni double to the right field corner to take a 1-0 lead.

The Isotopes responded with a pair of runs to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Roc Riggio worked a leadoff walk, but was thrown out by Stuart Fairchild trying to go first-to-third on a Nic Kent single. Kent advanced to second on the throw and later scored on a. Bryant Betancourt followed with another single to drive in Kent to tie the game. With two outs, Connor Capel hit a looping double down the left field line, driving in Betancourt to give the Isotopes a 2-1 lead, but Capel was thrown out as he stepped off second base, looking to take third.

The Rainiers put up a four-spot in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead back. Nick Raposo hit a leadoff single, the first time Tacoma got the leadoff man aboard. With one out, the Rainiers rattled off three straight hits. Leo Rivas singled up the middle, followed by a two-run double from Michael Arroyo to deep left-center field to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead. Nolan Jones kept the offense moving as he smoked a single to left field, pushing Arroyo to third base. Fairchild plated another run as he laid down a bunt up the first base line, making it 4-2 and sending Jones to second base. Victor Labrada cashed in another run as he ripped a single to right field, extending Tacoma’s lead to 5-2.

Tacoma plated another run in the top of the sixth inning as the first three hitters reached base. Mastrobuoni led off the frame with a walk, followed by another Raposo single and Ryan Bliss walked to load the bases with no outs. With one out, Arroyo drove a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score Mastrobuoni to make it 6-2.

The Isotopes got one run back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Riggio (3) hit a solo home run to right field to get Albuquerque within 6-3.

Nick Garcia picked up his second save of the season as he worked around a one-out single in the ninth inning to secure the 6-3 win in the series opener for the Rainiers, who have won nine of their last 10 games.

Tacoma looks to extend its winning streak to six games tomorrow night, with first pitch set for 5:35 PM (PT). Tacoma’s starting pitcher has yet to be announced.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• C Nick Raposo tallied a multi-hit game out of the ninth spot in the order on Tuesday night, marking his fifth multi-hit game since joining Tacoma’s roster…Raposo has tallied a hit in 15 of his 20 games with the Rainiers…Tacoma’s nine-batters are hitting .288 this season, the best in Triple-A.
• Tuesday’s victory was Tacoma’s fourth series-opening win on the road this season, and first since July 21 at Reno.
• RHP Nick Garcia earned his second save of the season, throwing a scoreless ninth inning…Garcia has not allowed a run in 19 of his last 22 appearances since June 25 and has not allowed a home run in his last 24 outings, the second-longest streak by a Rainiers pitcher this season, trailing only Michael Rucker’s 26-game streak (March 28-July 12)
• OF Nolan Jones went 2-for-5 on Tuesday, collecting hits in five of his last six games…over his last six games, he’s hitting .308 (8x26) with two doubles, three home runs and six RBI
• INF Miles Mastrobuoni drove in a run with an RBI double in the second inning on Tuesday, his fourth consecutive game with an RBI…over his last four games, Mastrobuoni is hitting .429 (6x14) with a double, home run and seven RBI.
• INF/OF Michael Arroyo went 1-for-4 with three RBI on Tuesday, his fourth game with at least three RBI since joining Tacoma’s roster on July 7…Arroyo has picked up an extra-base hit in three of his last four games, hitting two doubles, a triple and a home run in that span, driving in six.