Drew Swift drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 10th inning, forcing home Tommy White and giving Las Vegas an 8-7 victory over Tacoma at Las Vegas Ballpark on Saturday night. The Aviators scored four unanswered runs, snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 55-35.
Late offense changes the game
Tacoma carried a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth after scoring in four consecutive innings. However, White began the comeback by driving a full-count pitch over the right-center field wall.
His ninth home run cut Tacoma’s lead to 7-5. Still, Las Vegas entered the ninth needing two runs against Alex Hoppe.
After two quick outs, Darell Hernaiz singled to right field. Max Muncy followed with a walk, giving Michael Stefanic a chance to extend the game.
Stefanic delivered. He lined a two-run double into right field, scoring Hernaiz and Muncy to tie the game 7-7.
The hit also completed Stefanic’s recovery from an earlier missed opportunity. He grounded into an inning-ending double play in the seventh, then produced the game’s biggest swing two innings later.
Basso gives Las Vegas a clean finish
Aviators starter Joey Estes allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked two and surrendered home runs to Patrick Wisdom and Lazaro Montes.
Meanwhile, Tacoma continued adding pressure against the Las Vegas bullpen. The Rainiers scored once in the seventh and once in the eighth before Brady Basso entered in the ninth.
Basso immediately faced trouble after Michael Arroyo reached second on Swift’s throwing error. However, he retired Wisdom and Montes to keep the deficit at two.
Then, in the 10th, Tacoma’s automatic runner advanced to third with two outs. Basso intentionally walked Jhonny Pereda before retiring Spencer Packard on a forceout.
Basso allowed one hit across two scoreless innings. He threw 14 of 18 pitches for strikes and earned his fourth victory.
Swift answers after ninth-inning error
White started the bottom of the 10th at second base and moved to third on Cade Marlowe’s groundout. Hoppe then struck out Bryan Lavastida, leaving Tacoma one out from extending the game.
Instead, the right-hander lost the strike zone.
Brayan Buelvas walked on a full count. Jared Dickey followed with another full-count walk, loading the bases for Swift.
Swift also worked the count full. He took ball four, allowing White to score the winning run and completing the comeback after 3 hours, 7 minutes.
Muncy led Las Vegas by going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs and a walk. White went 2-for-5 with a homer and three runs.
Stefanic and Lavastida also drove in two runs each. Overall, the Aviators collected 12 hits and went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Series remains within reach
The victory cut Tacoma’s lead in the six-game series to 3-2. Therefore, Las Vegas can secure a split Sunday before beginning a four-day break tied to the MLB All-Star schedule.
Up next
The Aviators and Rainiers close the series Sunday at 12:05 p.m. PDT at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Right-hander Morales (0-3, 8.02 ERA) is scheduled to start for Las Vegas against Tacoma right-hander Hull (0-1, 5.47 ERA). First-pitch temperatures could reach 102 degrees, so fans may want sunscreen with their peanuts and Cracker Jack.
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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.
