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Kids Night Out

Aces erase early deficit, crush Aviators 15-7

One day after getting pummeled 18-9, Reno bounces back with a 19-hit attack to even series with Las Vegas
Third baseman Jacob Wilson hit his second home run of the weekend Sunday, a fourth-inning grand slam that gave the Aviators a short-lived 4-1 lead against the Reno Aces at Las Vegas Ballpark. (Steve Spatafore | Las Vegas Aviators)
June 13, 2021

The Aviators absolutely punished the pitching staff of their instate rivals on Friday and Saturday, crossing home plate a total of 26 times in a pair of blowout victories at Las Vegas Ballpark. That instate rival wasted no time exacting its revenge — big time. Less than 24 hours after

The Aviators absolutely punished the pitching staff of their instate rivals on Friday and Saturday, crossing home plate a total of 26 times in a pair of blowout victories at Las Vegas Ballpark.

That instate rival wasted no time exacting its revenge — big time.

Less than 24 hours after being on the receiving end of an 18-9 thrashing, the Reno Aces turned the tables on the Aviators, pounding out 19 hits on their way to a 15-7 victory Sunday before a sweltering, sun-drenched crowd of 5,464.

Just as Las Vegas did Saturday, Reno (21-13) got contributions from the entire lineup, as every batter had at least one hit and scored at least one run. And just as Las Vegas did Saturday, seven of the Aces’ nine hitters collected multiple hits, with catcher Daulton Varsho (3-for-6, home run, double, four RBI), right fielder Henry Ramos (3-for-5, double, four RBI) and shortstop Juniel Querecuto (3-for-6, two doubles, four RBI) leading the attack.

Before Reno exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth, the Aviators (18-16) actually had multiple opportunities to pick up their third straight victory (and sixth in their last seven), as they loaded the bases in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. However, they only cashed in once, when third baseman Jacob Wilson smacked a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.

Wilson’s slam was his team’s second in as many days and gave Las Vegas a 4-1 lead. It lasted all of about 10 minutes, as the Aces immediately answered with four runs in the top of the fifth to chase Aviators starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (2-2). Reno extended its advantage to 8-4 when it scored three times in the seventh, but the Aviators chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the frame on designated hitter Francisco Peña’s two-out RBI single and Greg Deichmann’s bases-loaded walk.

That set the stage for Wilson to potentially clear the bases with another big hit. Instead, he struck out against Aces relief pitcher Cameron Gann (1-0). Any hopes of a comeback by the home team were quickly dashed moments later when Reno sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the eighth and scored seven runs, turning an 8-6 game into a 15-6 laugher.

With the loss, the Aviators, who have surrendered 34 runs in the first four games of the six-game series, once again fell three games behind the first-place Aces in the Triple-A West standings.

GAME NOTES: Peña paced the Aviators’ offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Wilson (2-for-5) and second baseman Nate Mondou (2-for-4, run, walk) also had multiple hits, as did left fielder Mickey McDonald, who went 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI in his first career Triple-A start. … Wilson hit his team-leading 11th double in his first at-bat. Of his 25 hits this season, 20 have gone for extra bases (11 doubles, two triples, seven home runs). … Center fielder Cody Thomas, who blasted three home runs in Las Vegas’ victories over the Aces on Friday and Sunday, doubled and scored in the seventh. Thomas is 16-for-45 over his last 12 games with five doubles, six homers, 15 RBI and 13 runs. … First baseman Frank Schwindel, who hammered six homers in his previous five games, had his five-game hitting streak snapped as he finished 0-for-5 despite two hard-hit line drives right at Reno third baseman Drew Ellis. … Las Vegas finished 1-for-5 with the bases loaded, 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base. … Blackburn cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one run on five hits and one walk while throwing 43 of 63 pitches for strikes. By the time he departed with two outs in the top of the fifth, though, the veteran right-hander had yielded five runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks. He matched his season-high with five strikeouts. … Varsho’s two-run homer in the eighth was his third long ball of the series. As a team, the Aces have belted eight home runs in the four games (at least one in each contest).

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Despite committing two errors Sunday, the Aviators still have the second-fewest miscues (22) in Triple-A West. They also have turned a league-leading 96 double plays, including seven in this series (at least one in every game).

Other than Salt Lake (90 double plays), no other squad in the 10-team league has turned more than 75 twin-killings.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: With Sunday’s crowd of 5,464, the Aviators now have welcomed 90,624 fans to Las Vegas Ballpark through 15 games. The El Paso Chihuahuas are the only other squad in the 10-team Triple-A West that has cracked the 80,000 barrier (80,480 in 12 home games).

ON DECK: The Aviators continue their six-game series against Reno on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Daulton Jefferies (1-0, 1.37 ERA) returns to the mound for Las Vegas and is slated to oppose fellow right-hander Zach Lee (2-0, 3.00).

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