Alek Thomas Clears Bases in 10th as Oklahoma City Wins First Triple-A National Title

Alek Thomas drove a bases-loaded double into left-center field in the 10th inning on Saturday, September 26, lifting the Oklahoma City Comets past the Rochester Red Wings 5–3 for the franchise’s first Triple-A National Championship. The Pacific Coast League champions had trailed 2–0 until the eighth inning at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Thomas finishes the comeback in extra innings

Rochester, the International League champion, took an early lead on Leandro Pineda’s two-out RBI single in the first inning and Liover Peguero’s solo home run in the second. Oklahoma City did not score until the eighth, when Mike Sirota singled home James Tibbs III. Ryan Fitzgerald followed with a double that brought in Sirota and tied the game at 2–2.

The Red Wings threatened again in the ninth, putting runners at the corners with two outs, but Seth Halvorsen induced a flyout. Oklahoma City then loaded the bases in the 10th with the automatic runner and two walks. Thomas lined a double into the left-center gap, clearing the bases and giving the Comets their first lead of the night.

Rochester scored its automatic runner in the bottom half, but Halvorsen struck out Pineda to end the game. Thomas finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He collected multiple hits in each of Oklahoma City’s final three playoff games.

First national crown for Oklahoma City

The result gave Oklahoma City its first title in the single-game Triple-A National Championship. The club had lost its previous appearance to Norfolk in 2023. This season’s team reached Las Vegas by winning the Pacific Coast League championship, then completed its run with a 10th-inning comeback against the International League winner.