Las Vegas, Nevada (Sunday, May 5) - The Las Vegas Aviators (18-13) rolled past the Fresno Grizzlies (14-16) 11-2 Sunday afternoon from Las Vegas Ballpark. Las Vegas notched six runs in the first inning which included a two-run clout by Mark Payton. A frame later, Dustin Fowler's two-run single expanded
Las Vegas, Nevada (Sunday, May 5) - The Las Vegas Aviators (18-13) rolled past the Fresno Grizzlies (14-16) 11-2 Sunday afternoon from Las Vegas Ballpark. Las Vegas notched six runs in the first inning which included a two-run clout by Mark Payton. A frame later, Dustin Fowler's two-run single expanded the advantage to 8-0. Heading to the fourth, Eric Campbell raced around the bases for an inside-the-park homer, pushing the lead to nine runs. Campbell has had a round-tripper the past two games. Franklin Barreto added three hits, two RBI and two runs in the victory.
Brandon Snyder powered Fresno on the board with a dinger in the top of the fourth. It was his ninth longball of the year. 12 of the last 13 big flies for the Grizzlies have been via solo shot. Jacob Wilson tripled and scored in the last frame to complete a multi-hit day. Mario Sanchez (0-1) succumbed to defeat in his first Triple-A outing, lasting two innings. Dakota Bacus hurled a scoreless frame of relief. He has thrown nine and one-third shutout innings against Las Vegas this season, allowing only three hits over six appearances versus the Aviators.
Paul Blackburn (4-1) enjoyed the victory after six stellar innings of work. He gave up one run on three hits while punching out three. Norge Ruiz picked up his first save of the season after three scoreless frames.
Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Washington Nationals)
• 1B Brandon Snyder (1-3, HR, RBI, R)
• 3B Jacob Wilson (2-4, 3B, 2B, R)
• DH Yadiel Hernandez (1-3, BB)
Top Performers: Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics)
• CF Franklin Barreto (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
• RF Dustin Fowler (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R)
• LF Mark Payton (1-3, HR, 4 RBI, R)
ON THAT FRES-NOTE: The addition of INF/OF Chris Dominguez to the active roster marks a franchise first for the Fresno Grizzlies; he's the first to play for Fresno under two different MLB affiliations. While with the San Francisco Giants, Dominguez played in 306 games for the Grizzlies over three seasons (2012-2014). He's appeared in 22 Major League games between 2014 with the Giants (eight), and 2015 with the Cincinnati Reds (14). Dominguez is in his second season with the Washington Nationals organization, having played in 84 games last season with Triple-A Syracuse (IL).
