The Las Vegas Aviators saw their seven-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night in a 15-7 loss to the Reno Aces at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Las Vegas falls to 32-24 but remains second in the Pacific Coast League West. Reno improves to 27-31.
The loss came less than 24 hours after multiple roster moves between Las Vegas and Oakland, including recent call-ups and pitching adjustments. The shuffle showed quickly, as the Aviators used six pitchers and never found stability on the mound.
Early Blow Puts Aviators in Hole
Reno struck immediately against Brady Basso.
After a double and a walk in the first inning, Tyler Locklear launched a three-run home run to center field to give the Aces a 3-0 lead. The ball left the bat at 103.1 mph and traveled 402 feet.
Basso lasted just 1.1 innings and was charged with six runs, three earned. An error by Joshua Kuroda-Grauer in the second inning extended the damage, and a wild pitch allowed another run to score before James Gonzalez could stop the frame.
Reno led 6-1 after two innings and never relinquished control.
Stefanic, Marlowe Provide Spark
Despite the deficit, Las Vegas continued to swing.
Max Muncy opened the bottom of the first with a double and later scored on a Cade Marlowe single. Marlowe finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and his 15th stolen base of the season.
Jared Dickey answered in the second with a two-run homer to right-center, his third of the year, trimming the lead to 6-3.
Michael Stefanic delivered the biggest swing of the night for Las Vegas. After singling and stealing second earlier in the game, Stefanic crushed a three-run homer in the sixth inning to pull the Aviators within 14-7. He finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
Brian Serven added two hits, including a double, as the Aviators collected 13 hits overall.
However, Las Vegas went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
Bullpen Taxed as Defensive Miscues Add Up
The Aviators used six pitchers in total.
Gonzalez worked 3.0 innings and allowed two runs. Wander Suero surrendered three runs in two-thirds of an inning during Reno’s five-run fifth.
Nick Hernandez was charged with three runs in the sixth, but two of them scored after a throwing error by Kuroda-Grauer extended the inning and allowed Christian Cerda’s two-run double to break the game open.
Matt Krook allowed one run over two innings, while Ben Bowden delivered the only scoreless outing, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth and helping turn a double play to end the frame.
Reno pounded out 16 hits and went 8-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
Up Next
The series continues Wednesday night at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Reno is scheduled to start left-hander Drake, who enters 1-4 with an 8.10 ERA and 37 strikeouts. Las Vegas counters with right-hander Joey Estes, 2-5 with a 5.94 ERA and 35 strikeouts.
Bryan Lavastida has faced Drake four times and is 2-for-4 with two home runs against him.
First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. local time.
Related stories
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
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.
