The Las Vegas Aviators opened their six-game homestand with a pitching problem they could not escape.
Every Las Vegas pitcher allowed at least one run as El Paso pulled away for an 11-7 victory Tuesday night at Las Vegas Ballpark. The Aviators fell to 57-38 but remained first in the Pacific Coast League West.
Las Vegas scored four runs in the eighth, but the rally came after El Paso had already built an eight-run lead.
Early lead disappears quickly
The Aviators struck first in the opening inning.
Darell Hernaiz walked before Michael Stefanic singled. Bryan Lavastida then loaded the bases with another hit.
Chad Wallach was hit by a pitch to force home Hernaiz. Jared Dickey followed with an RBI single, giving Las Vegas a 2-0 lead.
However, El Paso answered immediately.
Jake Garland allowed three runs in the second, although only one was earned. Garland’s throwing error opened the inning, while Brian Serven’s passed ball allowed Blake Hunt to score the go-ahead run.
Garland finished after two innings. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out one.
Dickey ties it before El Paso pulls away
Dickey brought Las Vegas even in the fourth.
He drove a solo home run to right-center for his fifth homer of the season. The 409-foot shot tied the game 3-3.
Still, the tie did not last.
Nick Solak hit a two-run homer off Andrew Bash in the fifth, putting El Paso back in front. Bash allowed two runs across three innings and took the loss.
The Chihuahuas then added three runs against Nick Hernandez in the sixth. Hunt opened the scoring with a solo homer before Dustin Harris and Carlos Rodríguez delivered RBI singles.
By the end of the inning, El Paso led 8-3.
Every pitcher allows damage
Las Vegas never found a clean inning from its pitching staff.
Garland allowed three runs, one earned. Bash surrendered two more before Hernandez gave up three runs on four hits.
Domingo Robles then allowed three runs in the eighth.
Bryce Johnson stole home as part of a double steal before Solak drove in two more runs with a triple. Solak finished 2-for-4 with a home run, triple and four RBIs.
Overall, El Paso collected 13 hits and went 6-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Eighth-inning rally comes too late
The Aviators finally answered in the bottom of the eighth.
Brayan Buelvas and Jack Winkler walked before Drew Swift singled home both runners. Hernaiz then hit a two-run homer to left, cutting the deficit to 11-7.
Hernaiz’s second home run traveled 404 feet. Swift finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Dickey also collected two hits and drove in two runs.
However, Las Vegas left too many chances unfinished.
The Aviators went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. They also loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Wallach grounded into a double play.
Las Vegas mounted one more threat in the ninth after Lavastida was hit by a pitch and Wallach singled. Alek Jacob ended the game when Buelvas lined into a double play.
Up next
The Aviators and Chihuahuas continue the series Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. PDT at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Right-hander Mason Nett (1-1, 7.80 ERA) is scheduled to start for Las Vegas against El Paso left-hander Jackson Wolf (5-7, 5.65 ERA).
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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.
