The Las Vegas Aviators never trailed Tuesday night.
Las Vegas jumped out early, absorbed a late punch, and finished strong to defeat the Omaha Storm Chasers 8-5 at Werner Park. The win improved the Aviators to 37-25 and kept them firmly in second place in the Pacific Coast League West.
Fast start sets the tone
The Aviators wasted no time.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer doubled home Jacob Wilson in the first inning to open the scoring. Moments later, Michael Stefanic and Brian Serven delivered RBI singles, and Jared Dickey added a run-scoring groundout as Las Vegas built a 4-0 lead before Omaha recorded its third out.
They added two more in the second.
Cade Marlowe tripled to center to score Kuroda-Grauer, and Joey Meneses followed with an RBI single to stretch the advantage to 6-0.
Las Vegas collected 12 hits overall and went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Pelham remains untouchable
After Yunior Tur worked four innings and allowed one unearned run, CD Pelham took over in the fifth.
Pelham delivered two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one. He walked two but never let Omaha threaten. The right-hander improved to 3-0 and has not allowed a run since being called up.
Through five innings with Las Vegas, Pelham remains unblemished.
Omaha rallies, Marlowe answers
Omaha made things interesting in the seventh.
Matthew Lugo launched a two-out grand slam off Ben Bowden to cut the lead to 6-5. Suddenly, a comfortable margin had disappeared.
However, Marlowe responded.
Leading off the ninth inning, the center fielder crushed a solo homer to left field for his sixth of the season. The blast pushed the lead to 7-5 and restored momentum to Las Vegas.
Marlowe finished 3-for-3 with a triple, a home run, two RBIs and a walk. He scored three times and paced the offense all night.
The Aviators added an insurance run later in the inning when Drew Swift lined an RBI single to left, making it 8-5.
Bullpen closes the door
After Bowden allowed the grand slam, Matt Krook worked a clean eighth inning to earn a hold.
Michael Kelly handled the ninth for his fifth save of the season. He worked around two walks and struck out two to seal the victory.
Las Vegas’ bullpen combined for five innings, allowing four runs, though three came on Lugo’s swing.
The Storm Chasers fell to 28-35.
Las Vegas has won eight of its last 10 games and sits just one game behind first-place Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League West. The Aviators have outscored opponents 395-355 on the season and continue to apply pressure atop the standings as the division race tightens.
Up next
The series continues Wednesday afternoon at Werner Park in Papillion, Nebraska.
Las Vegas is scheduled to send right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (1-3, 7.11 ERA, 18 strikeouts) to the mound. Omaha has not yet announced a probable starter. First pitch is set for 11:05 a.m. PT.
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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.
