Aviators Fall 3-2 to Tacoma
The Aviators' inaugural season at Las Vegas Ballpark has been chock-full of memorable moments, from a slew of walk-off victories to numerous awards bestowed by both the Pacific Coast League as well as several national baseball entities. But if they're going to experience a memorable moment that will forever be
The Aviators' inaugural season at Las Vegas Ballpark has been chock-full of memorable moments, from a slew of walk-off victories to numerous awards bestowed by both the Pacific Coast League as well as several national baseball entities. But if they're going to experience a memorable moment that will forever be remembered - winning a division championship - the Aviators are going to have to bear down, fight, scratch and claw to make it happen.
For the second night in a row, Las Vegas had little trouble putting men on base against the Tacoma Rainiers, but it struggled mightily to push those runners safely across home plate. As a result, the Aviators (80-56) fell to the Rainiers 3-2 on Saturday before a Fan Appreciation Night crowd of 10,618.
The defeat was Las Vegas' third in a row and fifth in its last six games. Making matters worse, the El Paso Chihuahuas - who are nipping at the Aviators' heels in the PCL's Pacific Southern Division - earned a 3-0 road victory over the Sacramento River Cats on Saturday. El Paso's victory, combined the Aviators' loss, shrunk Las Vegas' divisional lead to one game with two to play.
As was the case in Friday's 4-2 loss to Tacoma, the Aviators struggled in clutch situations Saturday, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 runners on base. Despite those issues, several Las Vegas players did their best to deliver a victory, including outfielder
In other positive news, the Aviators got a stellar pitching performance from
Unfortunately for Holmes, Tacoma's
Yet the Aviators still had a chance to produce a walk-off victory in the ninth, as Loehr hit a one-out double to right field and scored three batters later on Payton's double to left. But the rally ended when
GAME NOTES: Saturday's sellout was the 45th in 68 games this season at Las Vegas Ballpark. … Besides Payton's RBI double in the ninth, Las Vegas' other run Saturday came courtesy of catcher
TRANSACTION ACTION: Another day, another slew of transactions that impacted the Las Vegas roster. First, catcher
In other roster news, the A's designated Aviators right-handed starting pitcher
ON DECK: Las Vegas and Tacoma resume their four-game series at 7:05 pm. Sunday at Las Vegas Ballpark. Right-hander
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