Mastrobuoni homers in ninth, but Rainiers fall 4-2 to Aviators

Miles Mastrobuoni gave Tacoma its clearest late jolt of the night, but the Rainiers were already too far behind to cash it in. Back in the lineup on a Major League rehab assignment, Mastrobuoni went 2-for-3 and drove a ninth-inning homer as Tacoma fell 4-2 to the Las Vegas Aviators on May 27, 2026.

That swing mattered because it changed the feel of the box score even if it did not change the result. Tacoma had spent most of the game chasing Las Vegas, and the Aviators’ early damage was enough to hold the Rainiers off the rest of the way. Mastrobuoni’s homer at least kept Tacoma from going quietly and gave a lineup that had struggled to string together rallies something to build on.

The loss left Tacoma at 23-30 and dropped the Rainiers into a deeper hole in the series after Las Vegas opened with a 4-3 win on May 26. The Aviators improved to 28-23 and controlled the game with pitching that never let Tacoma put together the kind of inning that could flip the night. One late homer made the finish interesting, but it was not enough to erase the work Las Vegas had already done.

For Tacoma, Mastrobuoni’s return was the more important part of the story. The 30-year-old infielder, born Oct. 31, 1995, came back on rehab after Seattle sent him on assignment in late May. Drafted by Tampa Bay in the 14th round in 2016 and already a player with major league experience, he immediately looked like a bat Tacoma could use, even in a loss. That is the value of a rehab stint at this level: one healthy, productive hitter can reshape the look of the order overnight.

The Rainiers have seen this matchup go both ways already. Tacoma beat Las Vegas 5-4 in a walk-off game on May 17, a reminder that these teams can swing from one tense finish to another in a hurry. This one tilted the other direction, but Mastrobuoni’s ninth-inning homer gave Tacoma a small but real sign that his bat is close enough to matter again.