Dallas Keuchel entered Wednesday with a 9.00 ERA and left with the same mark after another difficult start as the Las Vegas Aviators fell 7-3 to Sacramento at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Keuchel allowed three runs across three innings, and four of the five Las Vegas pitchers surrendered at least one run. The Aviators also stranded 10 runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The loss dropped Las Vegas to 65-49 and kept Sacramento in first place in the PCL West second-half standings.
Keuchel gives up three early
Sacramento scored in the first after Turner Hill reached on a forceout, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Parks Harber’s double. Keuchel escaped further damage when Brayan Buelvas threw Scott Bandura out at the plate to complete an inning-ending double play.
Keuchel worked around a bases-loaded situation in the second, but Sacramento added two more in the third. Hill singled before Bandura hit a two-run homer to center, extending the River Cats’ lead to 3-0.
Keuchel finished with three runs allowed on three hits across three innings. He walked four, struck out one and threw 66 pitches, including 33 strikes.
His ERA remained at 9.00 as he fell to 0-2.
Sacramento keeps adding
Nick Hernandez replaced Keuchel in the fourth and allowed two more runs. Thomas Gavello hit a solo home run before Bandura added an RBI single later in the inning.
Jake Garland entered in the fifth and allowed a leadoff homer to Bo Davidson, pushing Sacramento’s lead to 6-0. Garland settled in from there and completed three innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts.
Taylor Rashi allowed Sacramento’s final run in the eighth on Jonah Cox’s RBI double. Geoff Hartlieb was the only Aviators pitcher who finished his appearance without being charged with a run, working a scoreless ninth.
Winkler supplies the offense
Jack Winkler accounted for most of the Aviators’ offense with a pair of solo home runs.
He homered to right in the fifth, then went deep again to left-center in the seventh. The two shots were his eighth and ninth home runs of the season.
Winkler finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Brayan Buelvas added two hits, including his 15th double.
Las Vegas had chances to do more damage but could not convert. The Aviators left 10 runners on base, went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and grounded into three double plays.
Late rally falls short
Las Vegas added its final run in the ninth after Cole Conn reached on a forceout and Colby Halter and Darell Hernaiz walked.
Michael Stefanic then drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-3. Joey Meneses grounded out to end the game.
The Aviators finished with eight hits and six walks but could not overcome the early deficit.
Up next
Las Vegas continues the series Thursday at 7:05 p.m. PDT at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Right-hander Matt Sauer (0-1, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Aviators. Sacramento had not announced its probable 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.
