The Las Vegas Aviators built a four-run lead in the first inning Sunday, but Sugar Land erased it late and pulled away for an 11-6 win at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Las Vegas lost the final two games of the series after winning the first four. The Aviators fell to 75-55, still 20 games above .500 as they head into Monday’s off day.
Dallas Keuchel continued his recent improvement, working into the seventh inning and leaving with Las Vegas still ahead.
Aviators strike quickly
Denzel Clarke wasted no time putting Las Vegas in front, leading off the bottom of the first with his second home run.
Jared Dickey and Cole Conn followed with singles before Brayan Buelvas launched a three-run homer to left. His 15th home run gave the Aviators a 4-0 lead before the inning was over.
Sugar Land answered immediately.
Zach Dezenzo hit a solo homer in the second before Lucas Spence added a two-run shot, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Keuchel settles in
After allowing the two home runs in the second, Keuchel kept Sugar Land off the board for the next four innings.
He worked around two runners in the fourth, then got Joey Loperfido to ground into a double play to finish a scoreless fifth. Keuchel followed with a 1-2-3 sixth that included consecutive strikeouts of Cavan Biggio and Jake Meyers.
Keuchel finished 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He walked two, struck out four and threw 92 pitches.
The veteran left-hander lowered his ERA from 7.36 to 6.48. His latest start also continued a progression in workload after working 4 1/3 innings on Aug. 18 and five innings on Aug. 25.
Las Vegas misses chances
The Aviators had opportunities to extend their lead but could not capitalize.
Luke Mann and Jack Winkler opened the fourth with singles before Drew Swift moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Sugar Land escaped when Colby Halter and Clarke struck out.
Las Vegas also put two runners aboard in the seventh before a baserunning double play ended the inning.
The Aviators struck out 16 times for the second straight game.
Sugar Land takes over late
Sugar Land tied the game in the eighth after Loperfido doubled and scored when Swift made a throwing error on a ball hit by Meyers.
The Space Cowboys then overwhelmed the Las Vegas bullpen in the ninth.
Wander Suero walked Zach Cole before retiring Collin Price, then walked Lucas Spence. Brooks followed with an RBI single that put Sugar Land ahead 5-4 before Pascanel Ferreras drove in two more runs.
Jake Meyers added a two-run double before Ben Bowden replaced Suero. Zach Cole then doubled home two more runs as Sugar Land scored seven times in the inning.
Suero was charged with six runs over 2/3 of an inning and took the loss.
Aviators answer too late
Las Vegas pushed two runs across in the bottom of the ninth.
Winkler and Swift walked before Halter singled home Winkler. Dickey followed with his third hit of the game, scoring Swift and cutting the deficit to 11-6.
Dickey finished 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Buelvas drove in three with his first-inning homer, while Clarke also homered.
The rally stopped there as Conn struck out to end the game.
Up next
The Aviators are off Monday before opening a road series against the El Paso Chihuahuas on Tuesday at Southwest University Park.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. PDT. 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.
