The Las Vegas Aviators erased another late deficit Tuesday, scoring twice in the eighth inning to beat Oklahoma City 8-6 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Las Vegas improved to 62-39 after overcoming deficits of 4-1, 5-2 and 6-5.
Buelvas powers the comeback
Brayan Buelvas tied the game twice while driving in three runs. He hit his eighth home run in the second inning, then delivered a two-run single with two outs in the fifth.
The fifth-inning hit scored Darell Hernaiz and Michael Stefanic, pulling Las Vegas even at 5-5. Buelvas finished 2-for-4 with a walk.
Jonathan Ornelas also reached five times with two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch.
Eighth-inning pressure flips the game
Oklahoma City regained a 6-5 lead in the seventh, but Las Vegas answered in the eighth.
After Drew Swift grounded out, Max Muncy drew his fourth walk and advanced on a throwing error. Muncy scored the tying run when Ornelas walked on a wild pitch.
Joey Meneses followed with an infield single before Hernaiz reached on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error allowed Ornelas to score the go-ahead run.
The Aviators drew 14 walks but finished 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
Ornelas adds insurance
Jared Dickey walked and stole second to begin the ninth. After Swift moved him to third, Ornelas singled to center for an 8-6 lead.
Ornelas finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs and an RBI. He also stole his first base with Las Vegas.
Bullpen protects the lead
Braden Nett allowed four runs on five hits and six walks across 2 1/3 innings. James Gonzalez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third before Domingo Robles supplied two scoreless innings.
Gustavo Rodriguez allowed one run in the seventh but earned his first win after the Aviators rallied. Ben Bowden followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings and his seventh hold.
Bowden walked Noah Miller to open the ninth before Andrew Bash entered with one out. Bash recorded the final two outs around a walk to earn his first save.
Up next
The Aviators and Comets continue the series Wednesday at 5:05 p.m. PDT in Oklahoma City. Right-hander Landon Knack is scheduled to start for Oklahoma City, while Las Vegas had not announced its starter.
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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.
