The Las Vegas Aviators erased an early five-run deficit and climbed within two runs late Friday night, but Tacoma’s power proved too much in a 12-10 loss at Las Vegas Ballpark.
The Rainiers hit five home runs and scored 12 runs on 13 hits, while the Aviators answered with four home runs of their own. Las Vegas dropped its third straight game and fell to 54-35, though it remained atop the Pacific Coast League West.
Tacoma jumps ahead early
Tacoma opened the scoring in the first when Michael Arroyo lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Ryan Bliss.
Brayan Buelvas answered in the second, tying the game with a solo home run to right field for his third homer of the season.
The Rainiers broke the game open in the third. Jhonny Pereda doubled before Bliss drove him home with an RBI double. Patrick Wisdom followed with a two-run homer to left-center, extending Tacoma’s lead to 5-1.
Stuart Fairchild added a solo homer in the fourth to make it 6-1.
Starter Wei-En Zhuang lasted 4⅓ innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits. He struck out one and surrendered three home runs while taking his fourth loss of the season.
Las Vegas answers with power
The Aviators quickly climbed back into the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Tommy White singled and Jared Dickey reached before Bryan Lavastida crushed a three-run homer to center. Two batters later, Buelvas launched a 444-foot blast to left-center, his second homer of the night, cutting Tacoma’s lead to 6-5.
Tacoma responded again in the fifth.
Bliss collected his third double of the night before Arroyo drilled a two-run homer to right-center, pushing the Rainiers back in front 8-5.
Las Vegas answered once more in the bottom half.
Darell Hernaiz drew a walk before Michael Stefanic belted a two-run homer to left-center, trimming the deficit to 8-7.
Rainiers pull away again
Tacoma delivered the decisive inning in the sixth.
Fairchild opened the frame with his second solo homer of the night. Pereda followed later with another solo shot before Arroyo added two sacrifice flies in the inning, driving home Bliss and Wisdom as the Rainiers stretched the lead to 12-7.
Bowden, Wander Suero and Geoff Hartlieb combined to allow just one hit over the final 3⅔ innings, keeping the Aviators within striking distance after Tacoma built its five-run cushion.
Late rally falls short
Las Vegas continued to battle.
The Aviators scored once in the seventh before adding two more in the eighth. Tommy White drove home a run with an RBI single, and Stefanic added a sacrifice fly that cut the deficit to 12-10.
Tacoma reliever Josh Simpson retired the final five hitters he faced to earn his second save and secure the victory.
Buelvas finished 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored. Stefanic went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Lavastida added a three-run homer. White finished with an RBI, and Dickey reached base three times.
Bliss led Tacoma by going 4-for-5 with three doubles, four runs scored and two RBIs. Arroyo drove in five runs, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and three sacrifice flies. Fairchild hit two home runs, while Wisdom added his 23rd homer of the season.
The Aviators have dropped three consecutive games after opening the second half with a 10-3 record but remain in first place in the PCL West.
Up next
The series continues Saturday at 7:05 p.m. PDT at Las Vegas Ballpark. Joey Estes (3-6, 6.48 ERA) is scheduled to start for Las Vegas against Tacoma right-hander Casey Lawrence (5-6, 3.83 ERA). Saturday’s game also features Aviators Soccer Jersey 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.
