Reigning PCL champion Aviators open new year with 3-game sweep of Salt Lake

A three-game home sweep is how the reigning Pacific Coast League champion Las Vegas Aviators will begin their defense campaign.

The club earned a straight sweep over the Salt Lake Bees this past weekend from Las Vegas Ballpark to open the new year. Last season’s team had two regular season sweeps en route to the league title.

Dominant starting pitching saw the team all just two runs in more than 15 innings logged by the trio of righties Kade Morris, Joey Estes and Mason Barnett. Additionally, catcher Brian Severn opened his Aviator career with a perfect 7-for-7 start with three RBI and five runs to show for it.

Las Vegas’ nine-game homestand to start the year continues with six more from Las Vegas Ballpark against Oklahoma City. The team’s first six-game series of the year will feature four different start times beginning with Tuesday’s 6:05 p.m. first pitch time. Wednesday’s Kid’s Day contest is set for 11:05 a.m. ahead of three straight 7:05 p.m. start times while Sunday’s finale is at 12:05 p.m.

Friday, W, 12-1

Pitcher Kade Morris answered the call on Opening Night, clearing the runway for the bullpen to shut the door as part of a series-opening win for Las Vegas over Salt Lake Tuesday night. A pair of first-year Aviators carried the offense in their first showing in navy blue and orange.

Morris got the start after going 9-10 last season with a 4.38 earned run average. In his lone playoff start, he completed seven full while allowing a single run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Using that playoff appearance as a springboard, the Reno native started fast before giving up his first run of the year in the top of the third inning on a one-out solo home run. He finished one out shy of a quality start with a run allowed on four hits to go along with five strikeouts and two walks.

That stat line could’ve read more for Morris had it not been for an inning-ending fielder’s choice by one of those aforementioned first-year Las Vegas players, Michael Stefanic.

The 30-year-old starred with the leather and with the wood beginning with a leadoff double in the second inning. He scored as part of a two-run triple by teammate Henry Bolte as the home team took a 2-0 lead.

Two innings later, catcher Brian Serven collected the second of his three hits when he drove in a run on an RBI single. Later in the game, he added another run on a double as part of his 3-for-3 night with two singles, a double, two RBI, a walk and three runs scored.

That fourth inning saw the Aviators push seven runs across as they sent 10 men to the plate. The frame was highlighted by a three-run home run by right fielder Colby Thomas.

Las Vegas’ lead climbed to 10 runs in the fifth inning following an RBI single by third baseman Brett Harris, who was also hit by a pitch twice after leading the team in that department last year.

Morris (1-0) was done after serving up a two-out single in the sixth inning, allowing for the bullpen to take over in a big way. The Aviator bullpen combined to work 3.1 scoreless innings with three hits surrendered coupled with two strikeouts and two walks.

Salt Lake went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position while leaving nine runners on-base.

Saturday, W, 13-4

The stellar starting pitching continued for Las Vegas as it inched a little bit closer to a potential series-opening sweep over Salt Lake. A collective no-hit bid was lost late but did not spoil the second straight big win for the franchise.

Bats went silent early for the Bees with their first baserunner reaching in the second inning in the form of a walk. Even when things looked to be headed in the other direction, a runner who reached on an error was ruled out after being called for interference.

Starter Joey Estes left the ballgame after pitching 4 ⅓ scoreless innings of no-hit ball while striking out three and walking three. In the first two games of the year, Las Vegas starting pitchers have allowed a run on four hits in 10 innings of work with eight strikeouts and five walks in the process.

Las Vegas’ bullpen’s streak of not allowing runs to start the year ended in the eighth inning after the walks began to pile up. By the seventh inning, the team issued its fifth walk of the night.

That four-run 8th inning for the Bees began as the second straight inning to open with a walk allowed by the home team. Pitcher Jack Perkins would load the bases with nobody out on three straight walks before being yanked from the competition.

Eventually, all three of those runs would score on a three-run double which counted as the first Salt Lake hit of the night. The Bees would bat around in that inning while trimming the 9-0 deficit to a five-run hole.

Right fielder Zack Gelof opened the night’s scoring with a solo homer with one out tallied in the first inning. An inning later, the Aviators had runs score on an error and an RBI sacrifice fly before a three-run double by second baseman Brett Harris.

That was just the beginning for Harris who went 2-for-4 with a single, double, four RBI, stolen base, a walk and a strikeout.

For a second straight night, Las Vegas batted around in a single inning. Along the way, the team wasn’t retired in order until the third inning.

The biggest swing of the night came in the eighth inning when shortstop Euribiel Angeles smacked a grand slam to put the team up, 13-4. As an offense, the group has pumped out 25 total runs in the first two games of the year.

Sunday, W, 6-1

Supreme starting pitching has been the name of the game for Las Vegas through its first three games of the year as it secured a season-opening sweep over Salt Lake. Additionally, runs in four straight innings helped solidify the win, much of which continued to come from veteran Brian Serven.

Pitcher Mason Barnett coughed up a solo home run with two outs recorded in the game’s opening inning. That would go down as the Aviators’ first deficit of the season while also serving as the lone run surrendered in the win.

Barnett would get the win after working 5.2 innings of one-run ball on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Las Vegas’ offense tallied runs in four straight innings between the fifth and eighth innings. First baseman Brett Harris got things started with an RBI single to break a 1-1 tie. He now has a team-high 7 RBI.

The sixth inning opened with back-to-back singles which set up an RBI single from left fielder Cade Marlowe. Teammate Michael Stefanic added another run on an RBI sacrifice fly to make it, 4-1.

Serven added another perfect night to start the season after previously going 3-for-3 in his first outing of the year. In this one, he went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double, an RBI and two runs scored.