Las Vegas finished the job Sunday afternoon, using crisp pitching and timely hits to beat the Salt Lake Bees 6-1 at Las Vegas Ballpark and complete a three-game sweep.
The Aviators moved to 3-0 and stayed atop the PCL West after holding Salt Lake to six hits and 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Salt Lake dropped to 0-3.
Bees strike first, Aviators settle in
Salt Lake grabbed a quick lead in the first when Denzer Guzman hit a two-out solo homer to left-center. It was the Bees’ first inning lead of the series.
Las Vegas answered in the second without a big swing. Brian Serven reached on a single, advanced to second on a balk and came home on a fielder’s choice after a throwing error in left tied it 1-1.
Harris delivers the separator
The game stayed even into the fifth before Brett Harris came through with two outs. Euribiel Angeles singled, Michael Stefanic followed with a soft single and Harris lined an RBI single to center to put Las Vegas in front 2-1.
That run became the difference. It was Harris’ seventh RBI of the young season.
Small ball, speed and insurance
Las Vegas added breathing room in the sixth, starting with back-to-back singles from Serven and Drew Swift. Cade Marlowe drove in Serven with a single, then Swift and Marlowe pulled off a double steal, and Stefanic brought Swift home with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.
Serven delivered again in the seventh with a two-out RBI double that scored Junior Perez. In the eighth, the Aviators forced in another run when Zack Gelof walked with the bases loaded to push it to 6-1.
Barnett and the bullpen close it
Mason Barnett earned the win after allowing one run on five hits in 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. Yunior Tur, Eduarniel Núñez and Joel Kuhnel combined to cover the final 3.1 innings while giving up one hit.
Las Vegas also turned two double plays and caught Guzman trying to steal, with Serven throwing him out in the fourth.
Numbers that mattered
Serven was the engine all day, going 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Stefanic went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, while Marlowe finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Harris went 1-for-5 but delivered the key go-ahead RBI. The Aviators also ran well, with steals from Swift, Marlowe twice and Angeles.
Up next
The Aviators begin a six-game homestand against Oklahoma City on Monday at 6:05 p.m. PDT at Las Vegas Ballpark. The series opener is also Copa de la Diversión.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
