The Las Vegas Aviators had chances to avoid their first series loss since May. They could not finish enough of them.
Las Vegas went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base in a 5-4 loss to Round Rock on Sunday at Dell Diamond. The Aviators dropped the condensed three-game series 2-1 and fell to 57-37.
It marked their first series loss since dropping five of six to St. Paul in May.
Early lead does not hold
The Aviators opened the game with four hits in the first inning.
Max Muncy singled before Darell Hernaiz reached on a forceout. Michael Stefanic then doubled, putting runners at second and third.
Bryan Lavastida followed with a two-run single to center, giving Las Vegas a 2-0 lead. However, Chad Wallach and Jared Dickey could not extend the inning.
Round Rock answered with one run in the second before moving ahead in the third.
Luis Morales walked three consecutive hitters to load the bases. Jonah Bride tied the game with an RBI single, then a wild pitch allowed Josh Smith to score for a 3-2 Express lead.
Morales escaped without further damage, but the inning pushed his pitch count higher and gave Round Rock control.
Buelvas supplies the power
Brayan Buelvas put Las Vegas back in front in the fourth.
Drew Swift reached after being hit by a pitch. Buelvas then drove a two-run homer to left-center, giving the Aviators a 4-3 lead.
The blast was Buelvas’ fifth home run of the season. It left the bat at 103.3 mph and traveled 387 feet.
Still, the Aviators could not add on.
Hernaiz singled in the fifth and Wallach followed with another hit, putting runners at the corners. Wallach stole second, but Dickey flied out to end the threat.
That missed opportunity became more costly in the bottom half.
Two-out doubles decide the game
Josh Smith opened the fifth with a single against Morales. James Gonzalez entered, and Smith stole second.
Las Vegas then turned an unusual double play on Bride’s line drive, briefly slowing the inning. However, Round Rock responded with two outs.
Aaron Zavala doubled home Smith to tie the game. Trevor Hauver followed with another double, scoring Zavala and giving the Express a 5-4 lead.
Those two swings became the difference.
Gonzalez took the loss after allowing one run on three hits in one inning. Gustavo Rodriguez followed with two scoreless innings, while Wander Suero kept Round Rock off the board in the eighth.
Final chances disappear
Las Vegas put two runners aboard in the seventh when Hernaiz and Stefanic singled with one out. However, Lavastida flied out and Wallach followed with another flyout.
The Aviators received one final chance in the ninth.
Muncy doubled with one out, putting the tying run in scoring position. Wilian Bormie then retired Hernaiz on a fly ball and Stefanic on a groundout to earn the save.
Muncy, Hernaiz and Stefanic each finished with two hits. Lavastida and Buelvas drove in two runs apiece.
However, Round Rock went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Las Vegas managed only one hit in seven chances.
Up next
The Aviators are off Monday before returning home to open a six-game series against El Paso.
Game time and probable pitchers have not been announced.
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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.
