Aviators can’t stop misfortunes against Comets, lose third series to Dodgers affiliate

More misfortune for Las Vegas against Oklahoma City as the team suffered yet another setback against its Pacific Coast League foe.

The Aviators lost a second straight three-game series to the Comets, this time on the road. That makes three outright series losses this season for the first-half champions but all three have come at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A affiliate.

Oklahoma City is now 8-4 in the second half along with El Paso of the San Diego Padres organization and Sacramento of the San Francisco Giants organization. Meanwhile, both Las Vegas and Tacoma of the Seattle Mariners organization are sitting at 7-5.

The season-long nine-game road trip continues for Las Vegas as it prepares to head to El Paso to do battle with the Chihuahuas. That series is set for six games and is scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 8 from Southwest University Park.

Friday, W, 10-6

The Aviators needed to pull away late after building an early, 5-0, lead on the way to a second win for pitcher Osvaldo Bido.

Las Vegas began pulling away in the seventh inning after loading the bases with just one out. Three runs would soon score on an RBI walk to first baseman Logan Davidson, an RBI single by shortstop Darell Hernaiz and an RBI hit-by-pitch taken by catcher Willie MacIver.

The icing was put on the cake by center fielder JJ Bleday, who singled for two more runs in the eighth inning. He had himself a night with a five-for-five night with three singles, two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.

Early in the game, Las Vegas’ lead was started by the aforementioned MacIver, who produced an RBI sacrifice fly in the second inning. Two frames later, he plated another run on an RBI single just ahead of an RBI sacrifice fly by designated hitter Daniel Susac and an RBI double by second baseman Alejo Lopez.

MacIver was one of four Aviator hitters with two hits on the night but he did lead the team with three RBI in the win.

Oklahoma City had a second straight leadoff man reach in the second inning only to leave him stranded behind a popout and two flyouts. Bido’s first 1-2-3 inning came in the third before duplicating the performance an inning later.

Bido gave up two runs on a single in the fifth inning before leaving the mound with three runs allowed on five hits in five innings of work with six strikeouts and two walks for his second straight win.

Reliever Tanner Dodson came in out of the bullpen and would commit an error on a one-out pickoff attempt. He’d surrender a run on an RBI groundout before getting out of the frame.

Dodson got the hold for his troubles.

Saturday, L, 8-6

Las Vegas will play a second straight series that features a rubber match after dropping a Saturday contest against Oklahoma City. The Aviators are looking to avoid a third lost series this season and what would be a second straight.

Both would come at the hands of the Comets if it were to happen.

Starting pitcher Aaron Brooks lost a lead in this one as the team continues to have trouble holding onto the scoreboard advantage. It’s the third straight start without a win for the 35-year-old despite being spotted with a 5-0 lead.

The fifth inning opened with a walk and double before both scored on a two-run single. Another run would score on an RBI single before Brooks would be lifted from the game.

Brooks worked 4.1 innings with three runs given up on six hits coupled with a strikeout versus two walks.

Reliever Tyler Ferguson made his first Las Vegas appearance of the season after being optioned down by the Athletics. He faced a bases loaded situation just four batters into his outing.

Four runs would eventually score against Ferguson as part of an RBI single and three-run double. He’d not only be given the loss to fall to 0-1 this season but he’d be saddled with his first blown save of the year.

It was another fast start for the Aviator offense beginning with a second-inning RBI single from shortstop Alejo Lopez. In the fifth inning, center fielder JJ Bleday had the biggest swing to that point with a grand slam to push the visitors ahead, 5-0.

The final run for the team came in the eighth inning on an error. In the home half of the frame, OKC added a run on an RBI walk. Things fully sputtered out in the ninth after back-to-back strikeouts ending the Aviators’ scoring chance with two runners on base.

Sunday, L, 7-4

It’s a familiar finish for Las Vegas as it suffered back-to-back losses to end a second straight series which resulted in a second straight series loss to Oklahoma City.

Dropping two of three to the Comets for a second straight time means the first-half champions have opened this second half with two series losses in their first three tries. All three outright series losses for the Aviators this season have come at the bats of the Comets.

OKC’s Ryan Ward singlehandedly matched the entire output of the Las Vegas offense, showing up early and often. He homered in the home half of the first to cut a two-run deficit in half. An inning later, he gave the Comets their first lead of the game on a two-run single after entering the batter’s box with the bases loaded and two outs tallied.

Ward’s final showing came in the fifth inning on an RBI single as part of his 3-for-5 night with two singles, a double, four RBI and a run scored.

All of his success came off starting pitcher Kade Morris (3-2) who got the loss after working five innings on the mound with five runs allowed on seven hits to go along with two strikeouts and two walks.

Even though it scored four runs in the loss, Las Vegas didn’t really make noise with any of the scores. Both first inning runs came in quiet fashion via an RBI walk to second baseman Logan Davidson and an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of shortstop Darell Hernaiz.

The latter two runs came in the eighth inning behind an RBI groundout from Hernaiz and another RBI sacrifice fly, this time from catcher Daniel Susac.

Other than that, the Aviators didn’t have any luck with runners in scoring position as they finished hitless in eight chances. Moreover, the team left eight runners on base in the loss.