Las Vegas trailed wire to wire Saturday night and now sits 1-4 against St. Paul with the series finale set for Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Although the Aviators piled up 14 hits, St. Paul struck early and never let up, rolling to a 13-8 win. As a result, Las Vegas fell to 19-17 while the Saints improved to 19-18.
Early avalanche
St. Paul wasted no time. Orlando Arcia doubled home a run in the first, and a Michael Stefanic error allowed another to score for a quick 2-0 lead.
Then in the third, the Saints created separation. Kyler Fedko delivered a two-run single after a pickoff miscue extended the inning, pushing the lead to 4-1. One inning later, Aaron Sabato crushed a solo homer and Ryan Kreidler followed with a two-run blast, stretching the deficit to 7-3.
Because of that surge, Las Vegas spent the rest of the night chasing.
Bolte can’t be stopped
Nevertheless, Henry Bolte continues to shred Pacific Coast League pitching.
Bolte went 5-for-5 with two home runs, two doubles and a bases-clearing three-run double. In fact, his seventh-inning double marked his 11th consecutive hit, a scorching stretch the club highlighted on social media as his bat remains one of the hottest in Minor League Baseball.
He homered in the third and again in the ninth, finishing with five RBIs and 13 total bases. Despite that career night, the Aviators could not fully erase the damage.
Stefanic answers early
Meanwhile, Michael Stefanic provided an early spark with a solo homer in the second inning, his second of the season. Later, Las Vegas mounted its biggest rally in the seventh when Bolte’s three-run double trimmed the deficit to 12-6.
Brian Serven added a solo shot in the eighth, and Bolte capped his night with another homer in the ninth. However, each time the Aviators gained momentum, the Saints responded.
Bullpen burden
Kade Morris (3-2) allowed nine runs, eight earned, over four innings and took the loss. After Yunior Tur surrendered two more in the fifth, Stevie Emanuels gave up a two-run single in the sixth as St. Paul pushed the margin to 12-3.
Alex Jackson’s solo homer in the eighth added the Saints’ final run.
Although Las Vegas kept swinging, the early hole proved too deep.
Up Next
The series concludes Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark. Right-hander Sean Gallagher (0-0, 6.14 ERA) is scheduled to start for St. Paul, while right-hander Joey Estes (1-3, 5.74 ERA) takes the ball for the Aviators. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. PT.
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Bolte goes 5-for-5 but Aviators fall 7-4 as Saints cash in early
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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.
