Las Vegas punches ticket to Saturday’s Triple-A Championship after sweeping Tacoma

Las Vegas celebrates in the locker room after sweeping Tacoma to advance to the Triple-A Championship. Photo Credit: Marcell Gordon/Talk That Talk

Manager Fran Riordan along with his Las Vegas Aviators knew entering Wednesday, they were nine complete innings away from playing for its first championship in more than 35 years.

Las Vegas secured an elusive Pacific Coast League championship after beating Tacoma, 7-3, Wednesday, Sept. 24 from Las Vegas Ballpark. By doing so, it's the team’s 16th win in 20 total meetings against the Rainiers this season.

“There wasn’t any slogans,” Riordan said. “Just going out and doing it [...] It was just a total team win two nights in a row that has us celebrating right now in a pretty cool scene.”

After having to use just two pitchers in a Game 1 win on Tuesday, Riordan and company entered Game 2 planning to turn to veteran Aaron Brooks as the starter. Once pulled, the group planned to go with a mix-and-match approach to get Tacoma batters out.

“It was unbelievable,” Riordan said. “[Relievers] Tyler Baum, David Leal and Jake Walkinshaw, what they were able to do – that’s a really good offense over there and they just made pitches and kept them off base. Never let them breathe, just suffocated that offense.”

Aviator pitcher David Leal warms up during Game 2 from Las Vegas Ballpark. Photo Credit: Marcell Gordon/Talk that Talk

Brooks went just 3-6 during the regular season but entered Game 2 with a chance to help propel the team to a playoff sweep. His outing didn’t last long but he was relatively effective in his time on the mound.

In the second inning, the Las Vegas defense allowed the leadoff man to reach on an error by first baseman Bryan Lavastida. That runner would eventually come across to score on an RBI double.

Two more runs scored off Brooks in the third inning, this time both were charged to his stat line after giving up an RBI single and an RBI double. Following that, he’d be lifted from the game after working 2 ⅓ innings with three runs allowed (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

“We were ready to go,” Baum said. “Everybody down there knew that everybody was hot tonight. We were excited, waiting to get in and when we got in we were ready to capitalize.”

While Riordan was planning to mix-and-match pitchers to respective Rainier hitters, there wasn’t much need to take the ball out of the hands of his chosen relievers.

Baum (1-0) got the win after not allowing a run or a hit in 1 ⅔ innings on the mound with three strikeouts and a walk. He was a part of 16 straight retired batters by Las Vegas pitchers along with fellow relievers Leal and Walkinshaw.

Leal worked the longest in the win with three full scoreless and hitless innings with one strikeout recorded on his way to the game’s only hold.

Las Vegas outfielder Nick Martini puffs on a cigar after the team wins the Pacific Coast League. Photo Credit: Marcell Gordon/Talk That Talk

“We were all excited,” Baum said. “All three guys out of the bullpen, we’ve been in the [organization] since 2019. We all came through together so it’s exciting to see the three of us come through and get it done for the guys.”

Walkinshaw closed the show by working the final two innings of the game with two strikeouts tallied to just one walk. Following the win, Riordan hugged Walkinshaw during the postgame celebration and could be heard saying, ‘You’re a bad man.’

While Tuesday’s Game 1 started with a pitcher’s duel, the Las Vegas offense was much quicker to action in Game 2. The team posted two runs apiece in the first and second innings, setting up the huge performance by the team’s bullpen.

Designated hitter Nick Martini walked with two outs in the first and then was followed by an RBI double from Lavastida and an RBI single from right fielder Junior Perez to go up 2-0 in the opening inning.

“Tonight, we came in with the mindset of just getting after them early,” third baseman Luke Mann said. “Stomp on their throats and don’t let up.”

An inning later, catcher Daniel Susac singled with one out ahead of a two-run home run by center fielder Ryan Lasko to push the lead to three runs. It’s the second straight night with a two-run home run from Lasko, who played in his 15th game with the Aviators Wednesday night.

Aviators center fielder Ryan Lasko rounds the bases after homering for a second straight night. Photo Credit: Marcell Gordon/Talk That Talk

While Lasko played in his second playoff game with the club, Mann got his first crack at postseason baseball at this level. He recorded his first Triple-A playoff hit in the fourth inning in the form of a single but he swung for the fences on a three-run homer in the sixth.

“It was electric knowing that we could come home with it tonight,” Mann said. “Everyone knew to just do their part. Just do something for the team to come home with a win, don’t try and do it all yourself, just be a part of it man.”

With no winner-take-all game to play tomorrow night, Las Vegas will await the International League Championship Series’ Game 3 between Scranton-Willkes Barre and Jacksonville of the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins set for Wednesday night.

That said, the Aviators will have three full days of rest while their opponent, whoever it may be will enter on two days rest in addition to having to travel into Las Vegas for the title game.

“I think after tonight they’re going to need an extra day of rest,” Riordan said. “We’re going to be pretty fresh with our pitching. Guys are going to be pretty fresh getting off their feet for a couple of days so it should be fun.”