The Las Vegas Aviators could not overcome a difficult debut from Dallas Keuchel or a nine-run third inning Sunday.
El Paso scored 13 runs over the first three innings and defeated Las Vegas 15-9 at Las Vegas Ballpark. The loss ended the Aviators’ four-game winning streak, though they still won the six-game series 4-2.
Keuchel allowed four runs over two innings in his first appearance since signing a minor league contract with the Athletics. Yunior Tur followed and surrendered nine runs while recording one out.
Jonathan Ornelas drove in five runs for Las Vegas, including three on his first Aviators home run.
Keuchel struggles in Aviators debut
El Paso attacked Keuchel immediately.
Bryce Johnson walked, stole second and scored on Carlos Rodríguez’s triple. Nick Solak followed with an RBI double before Mason McCoy added a run-scoring single.
Blake Hunt opened the second with a solo home run, extending the Chihuahuas’ lead to 4-1.
Keuchel allowed four hits, walked one and struck out two. He threw 45 pitches, including 26 strikes.
The 38-year-old left-hander won the 2015 American League Cy Young Award with Houston. He last appeared in the majors with Milwaukee in July 2024.
Third inning puts the game away
Tur replaced Keuchel to begin the third, but the game quickly unraveled.
Will Wagner hit a two-run homer before Hunt added a three-run shot. El Paso then strung together four straight hits and another walk as the inning continued.
Tur allowed nine runs on seven hits and three walks across one-third of an inning. He struck out one and threw 35 pitches.
Nick Hernandez finally ended the inning, but Las Vegas trailed 13-1.
Tur returned to the Aviators after allowing 14 earned runs across 2 2/3 innings during two appearances with the Athletics.
Ornelas provides a response
Las Vegas answered with three runs in the bottom of the third.
Drew Swift singled and Darell Hernaiz walked before Ornelas drove a three-run homer to left. The 417-foot shot left the bat at 106.5 mph.
It was Ornelas’ first home run with the Aviators.
Chad Wallach added a solo homer in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 14-5.
Ornelas drove in another run with a seventh-inning groundout. He added an RBI single in the ninth, giving him five RBIs in the game and his first five with Las Vegas.
He finished 2-for-5 with a home run and one run scored.
Aviators continue fighting
Swift reached four times, going 3-for-4 with a double, walk and four runs.
Hernaiz finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, three runs and an RBI. Joey Meneses added an RBI single in the seventh.
Las Vegas collected 11 hits and went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position. However, the early deficit proved too large.
Hernandez steadied the game after Tur’s exit, allowing one run across 2 2/3 innings. A.J. Causey followed with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts.
Wander Suero allowed one run over the final two innings.
Up next
The Aviators are off Monday before opening a road series Tuesday against Oklahoma City.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PDT at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Las Vegas leads the PCL West at 61-39, while Oklahoma City leads the PCL East at 53-47.
Neither team had announced a starting pitcher.
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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.
