The Las Vegas Aviators were forced into a long day of baseball on Saturday after Friday night’s game against the Sacramento River Cats was suspended due to inclement weather after just two and a half innings. The suspended game resumed as the first part of Saturday’s doubleheader, and the Aviators made the most of it, using a big offensive surge to earn a 10-5 victory, before Sacramento answered with a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
Las Vegas jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the opener, but Sacramento battled back and eventually took a 4-2 lead after the top of the fifth inning. That deficit didn’t last long. The Aviators’ offense erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the inning to regain control at 7-4. Las Vegas added another run in the sixth and two more in the eighth to pull away for the 10-5 victory.
Several Aviators contributed to the offensive outburst. Jack Winkler went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, connecting on his 10th home run of the season while also adding his 12th double. Right fielder Jared Dickey finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Brayan Buelvas delivered one of the biggest performances of the game, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Buelvas connected on his 13th home run and added his 16th double of the season. Colby Halter chipped in two hits with a 2-for-4 performance, while Joey Meneses also finished 2-for-5 as the Aviators piled up 10 runs.
Las Vegas Aviators Brayan Buelvas | Photo by Christopher Vargas – LOD
On the mound, Las Vegas used several pitchers to navigate the resumed game. Ryan Magdic worked three innings, allowing six hits while striking out two, while Andrew Bash earned the victory after allowing two runs over two innings. A.J. Causey followed by allowing one run over 1 2/3 innings before the rest of the Aviators bullpen combined to shut down Sacramento over the final 2 1/3 innings. It was enough to allow the Las Vegas offense to take over and secure the first victory of the day.
The offensive momentum didn’t carry into the second game, however, as Sacramento responded with a 3-2 victory in the seven-inning nightcap. The River Cats scored once in the top of the first before Las Vegas answered with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately for the Aviators, those would be their only runs of the game. Sacramento pushed across two runs in the fifth to retake the lead and held Las Vegas scoreless the rest of the way.
Sacramento starter César Perdomo kept the Aviators’ bats under control, pitching 6 2/3 innings and allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking three and striking out two. Ryan Walker recorded the final out to earn his second save of the season. For Las Vegas, Kade Morris turned in a strong start, allowing only one run on three hits over three innings with one walk and two strikeouts. The bullpen couldn’t preserve the lead, however, as two fifth-inning runs ultimately proved to be the difference.
Las Vegas Aviators Kade Morris | Photo by Christopher Vargas – LOD
Las Vegas managed only five hits in the second game after its offensive explosion earlier in the day. Buelvas continued his strong afternoon by going 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored, but the rest of the lineup couldn’t generate enough offense against Sacramento’s pitching. It was a frustrating finish to a day in which the Aviators showed exactly how dangerous their lineup can be when everything is clicking.
The split moved Las Vegas to 66-51 overall, while Sacramento sits at 67-49 as the two clubs battle near the top of the Pacific Coast League West. The Aviators already secured their place in the postseason by winning the first half with a 44-29 record, finishing 1 1/2 games ahead in the division. The second half has been much more uneven, with Las Vegas sitting at 22-22 and going just 3-7 over its last 10 games.
There is still plenty of baseball ahead, and the Aviators will have another opportunity against Sacramento on Sunday at 6 p.m. The River Cats have won three of the first five games of the series, making Sunday’s finale an opportunity for Las Vegas to salvage a split and prevent Sacramento from gaining any additional separation in the overall standings.
Following Sunday’s finale, the Aviators will head to Albuquerque for a six-game road series. The Isotopes enter the matchup at 61-58 overall after going 39-36 during the first half and 22-22 so far in the second half. For Las Vegas, the upcoming stretch provides an opportunity to regain some momentum after a difficult 3-7 stretch and begin playing more like the club that captured the PCL West first-half title.
Aviators’ Top Hitters in August
Despite the Aviators’ recent struggles as a team, Brayan Buelvas and Michael Stefanic have been two of the hottest hitters in the Las Vegas lineup during August. Buelvas is batting .370 for the month, collecting 20 hits in 54 at-bats with three home runs and nine RBIs. His production has provided a consistent spark for an Aviators offense that will need its hottest bats to continue producing as Las Vegas looks to regain momentum down the stretch.
Stefanic has been even hotter, batting .395 in August with 17 hits in 43 at-bats, two home runs and 10 RBIs. He has put together an 11-game hitting streak and has recorded at least one hit in 11 of the 12 games he has played this month. With Buelvas and Stefanic both swinging hot bats, the Aviators have two hitters capable of helping lead the offense as they finish the Sacramento series and prepare for their upcoming six-game road series in Albuquerque.
