Aviators’ offense struggles in 4-1 loss to Tacoma

A steady rain fell on Las Vegas Ballpark for much of Thursday’s game against the Tacoma Rainiers, but it didn’t knock Aviators starting pitcher Miguel Romero off his game.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for his teammates swinging the bats.

Romero overcame a rough first inning and dominated the Rainiers over the next five-plus innings, but his offense failed to cash in numerous scoring opportunities and Tacoma escaped with a 4-1 victory before a damp crowd of 7,145.

In dropping the opener of a 12-game homestand, Las Vegas — which had won eight of its previous nine games at Las Vegas Ballpark and 14 of 21 overall — fell three games behind second-place Tacoma (40-33) in the Triple-A West standings.

Despite producing just five hits, the Aviators (37-36) had plenty of chances to put up a crooked number or two because they drew seven walks that helped them put runners in scoring position in five of nine innings. However, they couldn’t come up with a clutch hit, finishing 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 runners on base.

As a result, Las Vegas spoiled another terrific outing from Romero, who entered Thursday having allowed a single run in each of his previous three starts spanning 14 1/3 innings. The right-hander nearly matched that run total in a shaky first inning when he surrendered two runs on four hits (all singles). From there, though, Romero was lights out, allowing just four baserunners (two hits, a walk and a hit batter) over his final 5 2/3 innings of work.

Just how good was the 27-year-old Cuban? After giving up a two-out RBI single to Tacoma first baseman José Marmolejos in the first, Romero retired eight consecutive hitters and 17 of the next 20 in all. Also, during a five-inning stretch from the second through the fifth, he retired the side in order four times, faced just one batter over the minimum and notched five strikeouts.

However, after Romero hit Tacoma’s Jack Reinheimer with two outs and a runner on first in the seventh inning, Aviators manager Fran Riordan summoned hard-throwing reliever A.J. Puk from the bullpen. The left-hander proceeded to issue a walk that loaded the bases, and Rainiers left fielder Jake Fraley followed with a two-out RBI single to extend his team’s lead to 4-1.

Because both runs were charged to Romero, his final stat line — four runs allowed in a season-high 6 2/3 innings — looked much worse than he actually pitched. Even with those misleading numbers, Romero — who has made eight straight starts since transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation in mid-June — still sports a sensational 3.00 ERA over his last four outings, pitching into the fifth inning each time.

While Romero was dealing, Tacoma starter Penn Murfee and four relievers danced in and out of trouble most of the night. Yet the Aviators’ hitters failed time and again to make them pay. In fact, Las Vegas’ only run came courtesy of a Rainiers miscue in the bottom of the fifth, when right fielder Mickey McDonald led off with a single, moved to third on left fielder Marty Bechina’s double and scored when Murfee was called for balk.

The balk also moved Bechina to third base, but he went no further, as Murfee and Tacoma reliever Daniel Zamora worked around two walks (one intentional) by striking out the side.

The Aviators put runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings, but once again couldn’t deliver the big hit. When Tacoma third baseman Wyatt Mathisen made spectacular game-ending diving play that robbed shortstop Pete Kozma of a sure RBI double, it capped Las Vegas’ completely imperfect night with runners in scoring position.

GAME NOTES: Romero threw 54 of 82 pitches for strikes. … Besides Bechina (2-for-4, two doubles) and McDonald, the only other Aviators to record hits were third baseman Vimael Machín and designated hitter Francisco Peña, who had consecutive singles in the first inning. … Thanks to Mathisen’s game-ending play, Kozma’s 10-game hitting streak came to an end, as he finished 0-for-5. Catcher Austin Allen (0-for-4) and outfielder Skye Bolt (0-for-1, three walks) also saw their hitting streaks snapped at six and five games, respectively. … Romero, Puk and reliever Ben Bracewell combined to walk one and strike out eight. … Former Aviators closer Brian Schlitter worked around Bechina’s one-out double in the ninth to earn the save for the Rainiers. … Las Vegas outfielder Cody Thomas, who leads the team with 18 homers, 52 RBI and 20 doubles, missed his second straight game with a leg injury and is expected to be sidelined for about a week.

ON DECK: The Aviators are scheduled to hand the ball to Brian Howard (2-3, 5.81 ERA) on Friday in the second game of their series against Tacoma, which will counter with fellow right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (0-0).

First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., with the first 2,000 fans through the gates receiving an Aviators car trunk organizer presented by Pulte Homes.

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