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Wild is the best way to describe the latest six-game series between the Las Vegas Aviators and the Salt Lake Bees. After dropping four of the six meetings, Las Vegas lost its second series in its last three tries.
The six-game series against the Bees started a 12-game road trip for the Aviators which matches a season-long for this year’s group. In mid-August, the team will embark on its second and final 12-game road trip of the season.
Las Vegas is now 9-12 on the road this season and 21-24 overall. Currently, the team is locked in a three-way tie with Sacramento and Tacoma.
While scoring a series-high of 22 runs in game two of the six, the Aviators lost three of the next four games. It’s the second series loss of the month for the group.
Las Vegas will conclude its 12-game road trip with six straight in Tacoma against the Rainiers of the Seattle Mariner organization.
Tuesday, L, 9-8
Las Vegas held an 8-2 lead but would suffer a huge collapse where Salt Lake scored in the last four innings they batted. This comeback included seven total runs scored in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Aviators built their early lead on several home runs beginning in the third inning when left fielder Tyler Wade’s solo shot opened the day’s scoring.
Two innings later, shortstop Kevin Smith blasted a three-run bomb with two outs after a leadoff single and hit-by-pitch put two runners on-base.
Now with a 4-1 lead, designated hitter Dermis Garcia and first baseman Tyler Soderstrom went back-to-back to open the sixth inning. Soderstrom added two more RBIs to his ledger with a single in the seventh inning. He and Garcia combined to go 4-for-10 with two home runs, two singles, five RBI, two runs scored and three strikeouts.
The first Bees run came in the bottom of the fifth inning on the heels of three straight two-out singles. Prior to, Salt Lake had six straight batters retired in order on two separate occasions.
Reliever Trevor May gave up a leadoff home run on his first pitch of the appearance in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fellow reliever Rico Garcia suffered the same fate in the seventh inning on the first pitch that left his fingertips.
Things really took a turn in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Bees strung together three straight two-out hits once again including a two-run home run followed by a solo shot to tie the game at eight apiece.
With reliever Franklin Perez now on the mound, Salt Lake went deep once again on a 2-2 count for the third homer of the inning while snatching the lead for the home team for the first time.
The Las Vegas bullpen gave up eight runs on eight innings with four strikeouts and three walks in three combined innings.
Starter Hogan Harris worked five innings, giving up a run on five hits with six strikeouts.
Wednesday, W, 22-10
A motivated Aviators team put up a season-high 22 runs in a blowout win over the Bees which included powerful performances from their second and third basemen.
Las Vegas was bolstered by a six-run third inning where the first four batters reached base with two of them scoring. Right fielder Trenton Brooks and designated hitter Yohel Pozo both recorded RBI singles.
Two more runs scored on an RBI groundout from left fielder Cody Thomas and RBI sacrifice fly from catcher Tyler Soderstrom. The inning’s final runs came on a two-run double by third baseman Jonah Bride to put the Aviators up 7-0.
The team’s first run of the game came on a leadoff home run by shortstop Kevin Smith on the first pitch of the game.
Las Vegas did more damage in the fourth inning, putting seven more runs on the board. Pozo blasted a two-run home run with one out, Bride plated three more with a single and center fielder Max Schuemann tripled in a run.
Smith hit an RBI double in the same inning that he opened with a flyout.
Bride’s final run-producing hit came in the sixth inning on an RBI double with one out. Soon after, Brooks connected on a grand slam to put the visitors up two touchdowns and just one run away from the 20-run mark.
That mark was passed on a two-run home run by second baseman Zack Gelof in the seventh inning. He hit his second home run of the game in the ninth inning after having just one home run on the year coming into play.
Bride and Gelof combined to go 7-for-9 with three singles, two doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, six runs scored and three walks.
Las Vegas pitching worked around five runs scored in the final four innings by Salt Lake beginning with two home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Pitcher Joseph Wieland (3-2) got the win after going three innings, giving up two runs on five hits with a strikeout and walk. He got the win despite giving up those two home runs in the sixth inning.
Starter Colton Eastman gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits over 2 ⅔ innings of work with a strikeout and two walks. Eastman (0-4, 4.86 ERA) is still winless in eight appearances in 2023 with six starts.
Thursday, L, 13-0
Las Vegas was shutout for the first time this season, being smashed by Salt Lake 13-0.
As a team, the Aviators recorded just five hits with one going for extra-bases. In addition, the team went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position while leaving 10 men on-base.
Pitcher Aaron Wilkerson had a dreadful start and it got ugly from the opening inning. Wilkerson gave up back-to-back RBI singles with one out to put the Bees ahead 2-0.
An inning later, Wilkerson allowed three straight run-producing hits with two outs on an RBI single, RBI double and another RBI single for a 5-0 lead.
After appearing to settle down, Wilkerson was tagged for a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning with two outs already on the board. He’d get out of the inning and not return to the mound, giving up six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Wilkerson (1-1, 7.88 ERA) made his second start in six appearances this season. In those starts, he has given up eight runs on 15 hits with seven strikeouts and a walk.
Ultimately, Las Vegas was stung by two-out runs with 11 of the 13 Salt Lake runs coming just an out away from returning back to the dugout. Four of the six runs scored off Wilkerson came with two outs.
Left fielder Trenton Brooks led off the second inning with a double and that would go on to serve as the only extra-base hit of the game for the Aviators.
First baseman Tyler Soderstrom accounted for two of the team’s five hits, going 2-for-3 with two singles, a strikeout and a walk.
Friday, L, 7-6
Las Vegas lost another big lead, this time a five-run lead but losing the lead in the sixth inning did the team in for good in this, 7-6, loss to Salt Lake.
The Aviators raced out to a 5-0 lead starting with three straight one-out hits highlighted by a two-run double from designated hitter Dermis Garcia.
Center fielder Max Schuemann hit a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning to climb ahead of the home team, 3-0.
Another leadoff man reached in the third inning on a double. Later in the frame, runs would score on a fielder’s choice and an RBI double from third baseman Tyler Wade.
By the bottom of the third inning, Salt Lake bats woke up and started the inning with four straight hits, two of which resulted in runs. Another run came on an error followed by a two-run single to tie the game at five.
The Bees took their first lead of the game moments later on a fielder’s choice. However, the Aviators wouldn’t go away easily as shortstop Kevin Smith’s RBI double in the top of the sixth inning tied the game at six runs apiece.
Smith, Schuemann, Garcia and Soderstrom all recorded two hits and an RBI apiece while Garcia plated two. Both of Soderstrom’s hits were doubles.
With reliever Adam Oller on the mound, a one-out walk came around to score on an RBI double as Las Vegas lost the lead for good.
Starting pitcher Paul Blackburn was roughed up four six runs (four earned) on seven hits with a strikeout and a walk in 3 ⅔ innings of work. In his limited time as an Aviator this season, Blackburn has a 9.53 ERA.
Saturday, W, 4-3
A three-run fifth inning changed the outcome for Las Vegas as power swings were the difference. With the win, the Aviators are still alive for a series split against the Salt Lake Bees.
Las Vegas scored an early run to open the first inning after a walk and single started the inning. Left fielder Cody Thomas plated the game’s first run on an RBI single.
Right fielder Max Schuemann led off the top of the fifth inning for his second home run in as many games. He now has three home runs on the year.
Schuemann’s home run counted as the first of three runs in the fifth inning. Third baseman Jonah Bride hit a two-run home run after designated hitter Trenton Brooks walked.
Things began to look bleak in the late innings after reliever Trevor May gave up a two-out home run on the first pitch to Salt Lake catcher Meibrys Viloria.
Reliever Carson Smith gave up a run in the eighth inning via an RBI single with two outs recorded.
May, Smith and fellow reliever Joseph Wieland all recorded holds on the night while starter-turned-reliever Colin Peluse earned his first save of the year with an inning of work.
Sunday, L, 6-5
Las Vegas lost via a walkoff in the Sunday series finale against Salt Lake, effectively losing its second series in May.
The Aviators broke a 4-4 tie after opening the ninth inning with a single followed by a walk. Soon after the bases would be loaded with a one-out single. Las Vegas took the lead on a fielder’s choice that produced a run.
Everything fell apart in the bottom of the ninth inning after the Bees strung together a walk, single and another walk to load the bases with one out. A two-run single off reliever Miguel Romero flipped the scoreboard in favor of Salt Lake for the win.
Romero (0-1, 6.60 ERA) blew the save and was given the loss after giving up two runs on two hits with two walks in ⅓ of an inning.
Las Vegas had a pair of power swings in the sixth inning off the bats of left fielder Cody Thomas and first baseman Dermis Garcia. Those two home runs came on a combined one pitch total, which was seen by Thomas.
Thomas’ home run tied the game at three apiece while Garcia’s seventh blast of the year gave the Aviators a one-run lead. Thomas went 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. He now has 10 home runs and 46 RBI this season.
As it had done all season long, Salt Lake matched the efforts of its opponent, this time with a two-out RBI double to knot the game at four runs apiece.
Much of the scoring on the night came in a tit-for-tat fashion with Bees center fielder Jo Adell wreaking most of the havoc. Adell went 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBI, two runs scored, a strikeout and two walks.