The Las Vegas Aviators entered Saturday night with a playoff spot already secured.
A few hours later, they added another comeback win to their growing list.
Las Vegas erased an early four-run deficit and scored eight unanswered runs to defeat the Round Rock Express 10-6 before 7,100 fans at Las Vegas Ballpark.
The victory improved the Aviators to 44-28 and extended their winning streak to four games. Las Vegas entered the game having already secured the Pacific Coast League first-half title and a postseason berth.
White answers after Round Rock jumps ahead
Round Rock struck first with three runs in the opening inning.
Trevor Hauver delivered an RBI single before Gilberto Celestino added a two-run single to give the Express a 3-0 lead. Diego Castillo doubled home another run in the second to make it 4-0.
The Aviators answered in the bottom half.
Tommy White tripled and later scored on Bryan Lavastida’s RBI double. Jared Dickey walked before Joshua Kuroda-Grauer lined a two-out RBI single to right, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Round Rock pushed the lead to 6-2 in the third when Cameron Cauley launched a two-run homer to center field.
White answered again.
After Joey Meneses singled with two outs, White blasted a two-run homer to right field. The homer was his seventh of the season and third in as many games, pulling Las Vegas within 6-4.
An inning later, Dickey launched a solo homer to right field to make it a one-run game.
Two-out rally turns the game
The decisive inning came in the fifth.
Brett Harris opened the frame with a double before Meneses tied the game with an RBI single to left.
Tommy White was then hit by a pitch, and Brayan Buelvas followed with a two-out RBI single that scored Meneses and gave Las Vegas its first lead of the night.
Dickey delivered the biggest swing of the inning moments later. His two-run single to center scored White and Buelvas, extending the lead to 9-6.
The Aviators added another run in the seventh when Dickey lifted a sacrifice fly that brought home White.
Las Vegas finished 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position and produced six two-out RBIs.
Bullpen takes control
After a difficult start, the Aviators’ pitching staff settled in.
Starter Morales allowed four runs before departing in the second inning. Andrew Bash bridged the gap before Nick Hernandez entered and shut down the Express lineup.
Hernandez earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Ben Bowden followed with two scoreless innings while striking out five, and Michael Kelly worked a perfect ninth inning.
The trio of Hernandez, Bowden and Kelly combined for six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while striking out eight.
Meneses keeps leading the league
Meneses continued his torrid first half, finishing 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. His average climbed to .348, the best mark in the Pacific Coast League.
White finished 2-for-2 with a triple, a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored. Dickey went 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBIs, while Harris added two doubles and scored once.
Kuroda-Grauer drove in a run and Lavastida added an RBI double as Las Vegas collected 11 hits.
Up next
The Aviators will close the six-game series and the first half Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Round Rock is expected to start right-hander Nolan Kingham, who enters 0-2 with a 9.18 ERA. Las Vegas has not announced a starter.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, 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.
