Aviators take show to road for 6-game series against Aces

A blowout in the series finale brought an end to a rough first road trip of the year for the Las Vegas Aviators.

Las Vegas lost the first three games of the series by three runs in each contest before rattling off two straight wins.

Those wins were short-lived after suffering an 18-3 loss in the Tuesday finale.

Vegas drops to 6-6 on the season while Reno improves to ()

Both teams are scheduled to play 18 more times this season.

Thursday, L, 8-5

For the second straight series to open the season, the Las Vegas Aviators lost game one of a six-game series.

This time it came at the hands and bats of the Reno Aces.

After trailing 5-0, Reno rattled off eight unanswered runs including six runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Starter Parker Dunshee went six full innings allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one.

He was in line for the win when he left the game but reliever Ben Bracewell was taxed for four runs (three earned) on two hits in just ⅓ innings of work.

Fellow reliever Domingo Acevedo also allowed two runs (one earned) on just one hit in ⅔ innings of work.

Bracewell was charged with the loss and Acevedo was charged with the blown save.

Catcher Francisco Pena and shortstop Chad Pinder both recorded two RBI while outfielder Cody Thomas tallied one.

Both Pena and Thomas homered.

Friday, L, 10-7

After holding a big lead early for the second straight game, the Aviators suffered a come-from-behind loss to their in-state rival Reno Aces.

After three innings of play, Vegas led 7-1, scoring at least two runs in every frame.

However, the Aces tied the game after scoring four in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth.

In addition, Reno added three more runs between the seventh and eighth innings before shutting the door on Vegas in the ninth.

Reliever A.J. Puk was given his first loss of the season after allowing a run off one hit in his one inning of work.

That run came in the form of a seventh inning home run from Reno’s Seth Beer.

Outfielder Luis Barrera led the way with a home run and three RBI on a 2-for-5 day.

Third baseman Jacob Wilson also added to his team-leading RBI number and now has 10 on the year.

Saturday, L, 3-0

The good news was the Aviators didn't suffer another loss after holding a large lead.

In this one, they never led.

Vegas was shutout for the first time since July 16, 2019.

Starter Paul Blackburn was charged with the loss after tossing six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Two of the runs were earned.

His lone blemish was a fourth inning home run from outfielder Stuart Fairchild.

Reliever James Naile walked one in two innings of work but posted zero across the rest of the board.

As a team, the Aviators posted four hits and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, grounding into two double plays.

Six Vegas runners were left-on-base.

Sunday, W, 4-1

It took until the fourth game of the series but Las Vegas has its first win of the year against Reno.

It was the first win against the Aces since August 21, 2019 and the first win at Reno since May 28, 2019.

The Aviators held the red-hot Aces to a season-low in runs and handed the team its second loss of the year in 10 games.

Vegas drew eight walks while striking out seven times as a team and scored all four runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning, pinch hitter Francisco Pena tied the game with an RBI single.

Shortstop Pete Kozma also recorded an RBI.

Both Kozma and Pena tallied their fourth RBI of the season respectively.

Pitcher Tanner Anderson got his first win of the year in relief while former Los Angeles Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian got his first save in the Oakland Athletics organization.

Monday, W, 8-2

The Aviators made it back-to-back wins over the Aces with an 8-2 win Monday night.

A big 8th inning broke the game wide open as Las Vegas scored five runs to take an 8-1 lead.

It marked the biggest loss for Reno since September 2, 2019.

Catcher Francisco Peña continued his hot streak after going 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, a strikeout and two runs scored as a designated hitter.

Outfielder Buddy Reed also recorded a game-high three RBI while fellow outfielder Skye Bolt and first baseman Frank Schwindel tallied one apiece.

Starter Matt Milburn bounced back from a rough first outing of the year for his first win of the year.

He went five scoreless innings allowing just three hits while striking out two.

Tuesday, L, 18-3

To close the first road trip of the season, Las Vegas was blasted by in-state rival Reno to a tune of 18-3.

That 18-run mark is easily the most runs recorded against the Aviators this year.

A fifth inning grand slam from Reno was part of an 8-run frame for the home team.

Already staring at a 14-3 deficit, the Aces hit a second grand slam in the eighth inning with nobody out.

The beating got so out of hand, manager Fran Riordan opted to turn to position player Nate Mondou to take the mound for the last inning of the game.

Starter Parker Dunshee lost his second decision in as many starts.