Big Inning Helps Las Vegas Top Round Rock in Series Opener

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Las Vegas Aviators (42-30) used a four-run seventh inning to push ahead of the Round Rock Express (37-36) and claim Tuesday’s series-opening victory at Dell Diamond by a final score of 6-1.

The night’s win went to Las Vegas starter LHP Zach Logue (3-1, 4.89), who allowed just one run on five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters during 6.2 innings. Round Rock LHP Cole Ragans (1-1, 1.59) was on the losing side after his 4.0-inning start saw two runs, one of which was earned, five hits, one walk and four punchouts.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Las Vegas plated the game’s first run in the third inning. 2B Nate Mondou reached base on a Round Rock error before he moved to second and third base on back-to-back singles from RF Skye Bolt and 3B Vimael Machín. Mondou crossed home plate on a second E-Train error.

• The Express tied things up at one apiece when C Sam Huff scored in the fourth frame. The catcher knocked a one-out single before advancing to second as LF Nick Solak singled. Huff then scored on a Diosbel Arias double.

• The tie was broken in the top of the fifth inning when Bolt, who worked a leadoff walk, found his way around the bases on a single, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly.

• Both teams tossed a scoreless sixth before Las Vegas extended its lead to 6-1 with a four-spot in the seventh. With one out, CF Luis Barrera and 1B Dermis Garcia knocked consecutive singles before C Shea Langeliers drew a walk to load the bases. DH Matt Davidson hit an infield single that scored Barrera and an Express error on the play allowed Garcia to score.

• As the inning continued, a wild pitch moved Langeliers and Davidson into scoring position before a double from LF Christian Lopes scored his teammates and widened the gap for the Aviators.

• Two Round Rock batters reached base in the bottom of the seventh while one reached in the ninth, but Las Vegas worked to keep them stranded for the eventual 6-1 win.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Tuesday marked the first time that Las Vegas has played at Dell Diamond since May 26, 2017. The then-Las Vegas 51s, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, came to Round Rock for a four-game series from May 23-26. The Express swept the series and outscored the 51s by a difference of 30-11.

• Express INF Ezequiel Duran made his Triple-A debut on Tuesday, playing third base and batting second. Duran finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

• Round Rock RHP Hever Bueno, RHP Ryder Ryan and RHP Daniel Robert all recorded scoreless outings out of the bullpen. Bueno’s 2.0 innings saw one walk and two strikeouts, Ryan’s 1.1 innings saw one walk and three strikeouts and Robert tossed a hitless 1.0 inning while tallying three strikeouts.

• The Express totaled four errors during Tuesday’s contest, tying the team’s season high, which was set on April 29 in Salt Lake. Round Rock has made 12 errors during the month of June compared to 22 in May and 33 in April.

Next up: Round Rock returns to Dell Diamond on Wednesday to face Las Vegas for game two of the series. Aviators RHP Parker Dunshee (1-6, 6.93) will start against Express RHP Cole Winn. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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