Williamson Homers Twice, Tacoma Surrenders Late Lead in 7-6 Loss to Las Vegas

Published on August 15, 2025 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release

LAS VEGAS, NV – The Tacoma Rainiers (66-51, 28-14) surrendered six unanswered runs in 7-6 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators (67-50, 18-24) on Thursday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Tacoma remains in first place, now 1.5 games ahead of the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Las Vegas ignited the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer from Zack Gelof to take a 1-0 lead. Tacoma wasted little time to take the lead in the top of the third inning, bringing in three runs to score. Blake Hunt was hit by a pitch to start the inning followed by a single from Victor Labrada. Leo Rivas drove in both runners with a single to center to propel Tacoma to a 2-1 lead. Rivas swiped second base (18) then came in to score on an RBI single from Cade Marlowe. With his second hit of the night, Tacoma led 3-1.

The Rainiers continued the steady scoring, bringing in a run in each of the next three innings. Ben Williamson blasted his first homer with Tacoma to leadoff the fourth inning. The solo shot to center field extended a 4-1 lead.

Marlowe drove in his second run of the night with his third hit in the top of the fifth inning. An RBI single brought in Rhylan Thomas who reached on a single of his own to put Tacoma up by four.

Williamson led off the sixth inning with his second homer of the night to left center field. His second homer in as many at-bats extended a 6-1 lead while also representing his first multi-homer game of his career.

Jhonathan Diaz finished the night with his ninth quality start, tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball allowing four hits while walking two and striking out seven in his 21st start of the season.

Las Vegas took advantage in the final two frames, scoring six unanswered runs. In the seventh, Alejo Lopez hit a solo homer before Euribiel Angeles cut the deficit in half with an RBI groundout. In the eighth inning, Henry Bolte pushed a run across with an RBI single before Junior Perez delivered a go-ahead three-run homer to center field to give Las Vegas the edge for the first time since the first inning. The Rainiers went down in order in the ninth inning and the score held, 7-6.

Jack Cushing earned the win with 1.0 perfect inning and two strikeouts while Anthony Maldonado earned the save (8) spinning a perfect ninth. Troy Taylor was saddled with the loss after tossing 0.1 innings allowing four runs on three hits while walking one and striking out…