Aviators playoff bound after blistering hot first half

This year’s Las Vegas team did something that no Aviators group has done since 2019. And it accomplished it in less than half of the Minor League Baseball season.

Las Vegas is headed to the postseason for the first time since 2019. This comes after cruising through MiLB’s first half with an overall record of 49-26 including a 15-5 mark in June.

It will now represent one half of the Pacific Coast League in this year’s playoffs.

“We had different opportunities and haven’t been able to pull through,” manager Fran Riordan said. “This time around we’ve had a good stroke from Opening Day and now with three games to go in the first half. It’s just really impressive what they were able to do.”

Reality of a postseason berth set in following a doubleheader sweep in Sugar Land against the Space Cowboys. Had the Aviators clinched following game one of the doubleheader, there was a plan for that as well.

“It was going to be awkward,” Riordan said with a laugh. “We thought about that too because there was a real possibility that that could happen [...] We would’ve came in and hugged and handed out some high-fives and then we would’ve had another game to play in 30 minutes. “

Both wins in the doubleheader was wins 10 and 11 of the most recent season-long 12-game win streak for the club. It’s the second win streak of at least 10 games this season. Through the first half, Las Vegas lead the entire way. It sat in first place all but one day when it was tied for second.

There were plenty of things that went into the first-half dominance for Riordan’s group. The team went 28-11 at home while posting an 18-3-mark against the PCL West at home. Additionally, the club went 11-2 in series openers while only dropping one series with nine series wins including two six-game sweeps.

“Those six-game series sweeps are something that’s pretty much unheard of with this new schedule since 2021,” Riordan said. “We have two of those over the course of the first half and to only have one series loss, that tells you everything you need to know about the team.”

While the offense was top tier with 90 home runs (5th in PCL), 495 RBI (1st in PCL), a .296 batting average (1st in PCL), a .391 on-base percentage (1st in PCL), and a .475 slugging percentage (1st in PCL); the pitching may have been even better.

Las Vegas pitching ranked as the best in the league in earned run average (4.26 ERA) while being tied for first with a .244 batting average allowed. In addition, the unit was tied for second with four shutouts while ranking second in the league with 692 strikeouts.

Those strikeout numbers are more impressive when coupling it with the fact the Aviators walk the second-least amount of batters this season (301).

Pitchers Jack Cushing, Ben Bowden and Elvis Alvarado have helped shoulder the pitching staff.

Cushing leads the team in wins with an 8-1 overall record. Bowden sports a stellar 0.82 ERA in 33 innings pitched. Alvarado has emerged as the team’s closer with eight saves on the season.

“It surprises me to look at the league leaders every day and see Las Vegas leading the entire PCL in pitching in every statistical category that matters,” Riordan said. “It surprises me because it’s probably never happened before in the history of Las Vegas where it’s traditionally not the best place to pitch because of elevation, because of air conditions – it’s just a tough place to pitch.”

With the celebration coming on the heels of a doubleheader, the team’s photo came on the grass of Constellation under the night’s stars. In the very back of the team photo, about 75% of Riordan’s face can be seen amidst the smiling faces and playoff-clinching paraphernalia of his players and coaches.

“It’s not about me,” Riordan said. “It never has been, it never will be. I enjoy what I do so much watching these guys go out, get better and win [...] That’s my joy, I don’t need to be in the middle of any picture. The picture happened organically and I happened to be in the back and it’s kind of who I am. I’m with the boys front and center every day but it’s the players who get the shine.

“That’s just the way it should be in my opinion.”

Despite the present mood, the two-time PCL Manager of the Year remembers what happened the last time the team went to the playoffs. After posting an overall record of 83-57 in 2019, Las Vegas lost in five games to Sacramento.

While focused on not letting it happen again, Riordan understands it begins with sustaining success in the second half.

“The goal stays the same,” he said. “The goal is to get these guys prepared for the big leagues. The goal is to create the right culture for them to come to work every day.”