Rainiers Walk-Off Chihuahuas Again, Win 5-4 in 11 Innings

TACOMA, WA (September 10, 2026) — After falling behind in the 10th inning, the Tacoma Rainiers (35-31/68-73) came back beat the El Paso Chihuahuas (22-44/57-84) on a walk-off, infield single from Victor Labrada in the 11th inning to win 5-4 Thursday night at Cheney Stadium. It’s Tacoma’s second walk-off win in the series against El Paso and Tacoma’s third walk-off win in its last four games at Cheney Stadium. Labrada also homered in the contest, marking his 11th of the season. Andy Ibáñez led the team with three hits and drove in two runs while Ryan Bliss hit a game-tying triple with one out in the 10th inning.

After Simeon Woods Richardson and Luis Gutierrez traded a pair of scoreless frames to open the ballgame, Tacoma opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Leo Rivas smoked a double down the right field line and then, Andy Ibáñez lined a single into right-center field. Rivas scored with ease to give the Rainiers a 1-0 lead.

Woods Richardson exited with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. In his second start with the Rainiers, he spun 3.2 scoreless frames, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three.

El Paso tied the game in the fifth inning. Marcos Castañon walked to lead off the frame and he advanced to third two batters later when Bryce Johnson hit a double into the left-center field gap. Then, Anthony Vilar laced a single into center field, plating Castañon to even the score at one.

Tacoma immediately retook the lead in the home half of the fifth inning when Labrada (11) crushed a leadoff home run over the right field wall, making it 2-1. Then, with two outs, Rivas walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Ibáñez, ripped a single into right-center field, scoring Rivas to give the Rainiers a 3-1 lead.

El Paso cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Carlos Rodríguez and Nick Solak hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, Castañon served the third single of the frame into left field, bringing home Rodríguez to make it 3-2.

After both teams were held scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings, El Paso tied the game in the top of the ninth. Castañon doubled to right field to lead off the frame and two batters later, Johnson laced a double into right-center field. Castañon scored without a throw, evening the score at 3-3. The Rainiers got the leadoff batter on base in the home half of the ninth but failed to score, sending the game to extra innings.

The Chihuahuas broke the tie in the top of the 10th inning. With Mason McCoy placed at second to start the frame, Braedon Karpathios, who replaced Miguel Andujar, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move McCoy up to third. Then, Rodríguez hit a single into right field, plating McCoy to make it 4-3 and give El Paso its first lead of the game.

Tacoma entered the home half of the 10th inning needing one run to stay alive. Labrada was the runner placed at second base. With one out in the frame, Ryan Bliss hit the first pitch he saw into the right field corner for a triple. Labrada hustled home from second to tie the game at four, but the Rainiers were not able to score Bliss as the game continued into the 11th.

Castañon started the 11th inning at second base for the Chihuahuas and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Workman. Then, Johnson walked and stole second to get two runners in scoring position with one out. They were stranded there as Scott Effross got Rodolfo Durán to fly out, and then struck out McCoy to keep the score tied heading into the bottom of the 11th.

Tacoma walked it off in the home half of the 11th inning. With Nolan Jones placed at second, Connor Joe was intentionally walked to lead off the frame. Willie MacIver dropped a single into right field, loading the bases with no outs. Then, Labrada walked it off with an infield single as Jones slid home safely, winning the game 5-4 for the Rainiers Thursday.

Tacoma looks to build off the walk-off win Friday night. LHP Jhonathan Díaz will get the ball to make his Pacific Coast League-leading 27th start with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• The Rainiers walked it off for the seventh time this season, as well as the second time this series and their third walk-off win in their last four home games…since August 1, Tacoma has 15 come-from-behind victories, the most in the minor leagues…Tacoma’s seven walk-off wins this season are also the second-most in the PCL, trailing Sugar Land’s 13.

• OF Victor Labrada walked it off with a single in the 11th inning Thursday night, marking his fifth career walkoff…he finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored…Labrada’s last walk-off came on August 20, 2025, with Tacoma against Oklahoma City…Thursday also marked his 11th home run of the season, putting him one shy of tying his career-high (12 in 2022 with Single-A Modesto and High-A Everett).

• INF/OF Leo Rivas doubled in the third inning Thursday, extending his on-base streak to 23 games…it’s the second longest on-base streak by a Rainiers hitter this season, trailing Connor Joe’s streak of 26 games from July 28-August 29…it’s Rivas’ longest on-base streak since also reaching safely in 23 consecutive games from August 12-September 6, 2025.

• INF Andy Ibáñez extended his hitting streak to eight games Thursday night, tied for the fifth longest streak by a Rainiers hitter this season…he finished 3-for-5 with two RBI…it’s Ibáñez second three-hit game with Tacoma and since joining the Rainiers on August 18…over his eight-game hitting streak, Ibáñez is hitting .368 (14x38) with one double, one home run and eight RBI.