The Aviators kept the momentum rolling Sunday afternoon, using power and timely hitting to beat Oklahoma City 9-3 at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Las Vegas improved to 7-2 on the season, scoring in four different innings and backing a strong bullpen effort after an early back-and-forth stretch.
Thomas sparks the offense
Oklahoma City struck first in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly from Nick Senzel, but Colby Thomas answered quickly in the second. The Aviators’ designated hitter launched a solo homer to center to tie the game at 1-1.
Later in the inning, Joey Meneses lined a double to left that scored Brian Serven and gave Las Vegas its first lead at 2-1.
After the Comets pulled even in the third on a passed ball and throwing error, the Aviators responded again. Drew Swift and Zack Gelof opened the bottom half with back-to-back doubles, and Junior Perez brought Swift home with a groundout to put Las Vegas back on top, 3-2.
Swift delivers the big hit
The game turned in the fourth. Henry Bolte and Meneses reached base, and with two outs Swift lined a single to center that scored both runners, stretching the lead to 5-2.
Las Vegas added separation in the seventh. After Thomas and Serven reached, Bolte crushed a three-run homer to right, pushing the advantage to 8-3.
Thomas was not finished. In the eighth, he connected again, launching his second homer of the afternoon to center to cap the scoring at 9-3.
Thomas finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBI. Bolte drove in three with his seventh-inning blast, while Swift collected two hits and two RBI. Meneses added two hits and an RBI as part of a 12-hit day for Las Vegas.
Bullpen takes control
Gage Jump allowed two runs, one earned, over 3.2 innings before Jack Perkins entered and steadied the game. Perkins earned the win with 2.2 innings of one-run ball.
Brady Basso worked 1.2 innings without allowing a run, and Nick Anderson closed out the ninth. The Aviators held Oklahoma City to just three hits.
Up next
The Aviators hit the road Tuesday to open a series against the Sacramento River Cats. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. PT in Sacramento.
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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.
