Aviators Power Way Past Isotopes, 7-2
For the past three weeks, the Aviators and El Paso Chihuahuas have engaged in what amounts to a staring contest. And with their performance over the past two nights, the Aviators have delivered a very clear message to the Chihuahuas: Our eyes are more wide open than Odell Beckham Jr.
For the past three weeks, the Aviators and El Paso Chihuahuas have engaged in what amounts to a staring contest. And with their performance over the past two nights, the Aviators have delivered a very clear message to the Chihuahuas: Our eyes are more wide open than Odell Beckham Jr. against a high school defensive back.
One night after blowing all of a 5-0 lead to Albuquerque only to pull out a 6-5 victory, Las Vegas spotted the Isotopes an early 2-0 lead Sunday before rallying for seven unanswered runs in a 7-2 victory before a sellout crowd of 9,513 at Las Vegas Ballpark. The Aviators (73-52) got home runs from
With the victory, Las Vegas split the four-game series with the Isotopes (53-72) and remained in a flat-footed tie atop the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division with El Paso, which held off Salt Lake 10-8 on the road. Both squads have 15 games remaining in the regular season, and if the last three weeks are any indication, this tug-of-war is going down to the wire - and perhaps beyond.
Consider that in a span of 20 games dating to July 27, neither the Aviators nor the Chihuahuas has been more than two games out of first place. Even more incredibly, no more than one game has separated the two rivals in the last 14 contests. A big reason why has been Las Vegas' continued resiliency, which was on full display the past two nights.
After a pair of difficult losses to start the series against Albuquerque, the Aviators raced out to a 5-0 lead after two innings Saturday night. But the Isotopes answered with four runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to forge a 5-5 tie. But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh,
Then on Sunday, it was the Isotopes' turn to grab an early lead, which they did with two outs in the top of the third, when
While Manaea (2-1) retired seven of the final eight batters he faced, his teammates battled back to put him position to get the victory. After Rupp hit a solo homer with one out in the third,
They would tack on four big insurance runs in the sixth inning, all with two outs, when Payton followed a Neuse walk with a two-run homer and Barreto followed
When Romero retired
So who's going to blink first? Tape your eyelids open over the final 15 games to find out.
GAME NOTES: Puk, Finnegan, Cotton, Bracewell, Romero and
TRANSACTION ACTION: Prior to Sunday's game, the Aviators activated Bolt from the injured list. To make room for the outfielder, who had been sidelined with a concussion, Las Vegas placed infielder
ON DECK: The Aviators welcome the Reno Aces to Las Vegas Ballpark for a three-game series that starts at 7:05 p.m. Monday.
The Aviators are 8-5 against Reno this season (4-1 at home) and need just one victory to claim the season series and the Governor's Cup trophy.
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