Aviators take 5 of 6 from Sacramento to open second half

Athletics reliever CD Pelham delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 21, 2026, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. Pelham earned the win with two scoreless relief innings Sunday as the Las Vegas Aviators defeated Sacramento 6-2 to secure a 5-1 series victory and remain atop the Pacific Coast League West. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Aviators capped a successful opening week of the Pacific Coast League second half Sunday with a 6-2 victory over the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park.

Michael Stefanic led the offense with three hits and an RBI. Drew Swift doubled twice and scored two runs, while Darell Hernaiz collected two hits, walked twice and stole a base. Jared Dickey added a hit, two walks and an RBI.

Fourth-inning breakthrough

The Aviators broke through in the fourth inning. Swift lined a two-out double before Dickey followed with an RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead.

Sacramento immediately threatened after putting runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Reliever CD Pelham entered and helped preserve the lead by cutting down Will Brennan at the plate on a fielder’s choice before striking out Aeverson Arteaga to end the inning.

Pelham escaped another jam in the fifth after the River Cats loaded the bases with one out. The left-hander induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Brennan to keep Las Vegas in front.

Aviators add insurance

Las Vegas created separation in the sixth. Swift doubled again and Dickey walked before Brayan Buelvas lined a two-run single to center. A throwing error by center fielder Turner Hill allowed Buelvas to advance to third, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Aviators added two more runs in the seventh. Hernaiz walked and Brian Serven singled before Stefanic delivered an RBI single to right. Swift then grounded into a double play that scored Serven for a 6-0 advantage.

Bullpen seals the series

Pelham improved to 4-0 after recording six key outs over two scoreless innings of relief. Starter Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang allowed two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings before giving way to the bullpen.

James Gonzalez struck out three over two hitless innings, and Wander Suero followed with a scoreless eighth. Yunior Tur surrendered two runs in the ninth after issuing three walks, but the Aviators’ early cushion proved more than enough.

Thomas Gavello grounded into a double play that scored Turner Hill before a wild pitch allowed Dayson Croes to score the final run.

The River Cats finished with five hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Las Vegas turned two double plays and stranded eight Sacramento baserunners.

The Aviators finished with 13 hits and went 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Stefanic had three hits, Swift doubled twice and scored twice, and Hernaiz reached base four times.

Up next

The Aviators are off Monday before opening a six-game road series against the Salt Lake Bees on Tuesday at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan, Utah. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. PDT.

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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.