Las Vegas and Sacramento combined for 19 runs one night earlier. On Saturday, they combined for just 10 hits in a tightly played pitchers’ duel.
Jacob Lopez turned in six scoreless innings for his first win of the season, and Tommy White’s first-inning sacrifice fly stood as the difference as the Las Vegas Aviators edged the Sacramento River Cats 1-0 before 6,412 fans at Sutter Health Park.
The victory improved the Aviators to 48-30 overall and 4-1 in the second half. Las Vegas also improved to 4-1 in the six-game series and has won nine of its last 12 games.
Lopez answers the call
Making just his third start of the season, Lopez delivered his best outing in an Aviators uniform.
The left-hander allowed three hits over six scoreless innings, walked one and struck out four while throwing just 64 pitches, including 49 for strikes. He consistently worked ahead in the count and generated 10 ground-ball outs to keep Sacramento from finding an offensive rhythm.
One run proves enough
The Aviators scored the game’s only run in the opening inning.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on White’s sacrifice fly to center. Neither club scored again as both pitching staffs controlled the game from there.
Las Vegas finished with five hits. Kuroda-Grauer doubled and scored, Drew Swift collected two hits and Darell Hernaiz and Jared Dickey each added a single.
Defense preserves the lead
Sacramento’s best chance came in the seventh after Scott Bandura doubled and Turner Hill reached on Tommy White’s fielding error, putting runners at the corners with one out.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer squeezed Aeverson Arteaga’s infield popup before Drew Swift started an inning-ending force play on Zach Morgan’s ground ball, allowing the Aviators to escape with the lead intact.
Lopez also worked out of trouble in the sixth. After Nate Furman reached second with one out, he retired Will Brennan and Osleivis Basabe on consecutive ground balls to strand the potential tying run.
Bullpen seals the shutout
Brady Basso followed Lopez with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out one.
Ben Bowden earned his second save after surrendering a leadoff single in the ninth. He retired the next three hitters, including a sacrifice bunt and two routine fly balls, to finish the shutout.
Up next
The Aviators wrap up their six-game series against Sacramento on Sunday. Right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (1-3, 6.87 ERA) is the expected starter for Las Vegas, while the River Cats had not announced a starter as of Saturday night.
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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.
