Aviators Walk-Off Dodgers, Move Back into First Place
For the second consecutive night, the Aviators needed a victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers to jump back into first place for the first time since late April. And for the second consecutive night, the Aviators mounted a ninth inning rally after being forced to play catch-up for most of
For the second consecutive night, the Aviators needed a victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers to jump back into first place for the first time since late April. And for the second consecutive night, the Aviators mounted a ninth inning rally after being forced to play catch-up for most of the game.
The difference Monday night? They finished the rally with a walk-off victory.
Trailing 9-8 entering the bottom of the ninth,
The victory, coupled with El Paso's 10-4 loss in Memphis, moved the Aviators into a first-place tie with the Chihuahuas atop the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division. Both teams are 66-48 with 26 games to play.
That Las Vegas finally caught El Paso is a testament to the players' never-say-die attitude - an attitude that allowed them to keep El Paso in their sights for more than three months, not to mention allowed them to slip past Oklahoma City (52-61) on Monday.
In a game that featured five lead changes, the Aviators faced deficits of 2-0, 7-3 and 9-8. But they used the long ball to continuously claw their way back - in fact, their first eight runs came as a result of five home runs: Brown (solo) and
Payton's second blast actually gave Las Vegas an 8-7 lead, its first since the second inning. But that lead lasted mere minutes, as six consecutive Dodgers reached base to start the top of the seventh. Aviators reliever
It turned out to be a huge break for Wendelken, who subsequently allowed two more singles to load the bases, then issued consecutive walks to force in the tying and go-ahead runs. But the right-hander escaped further damage when he struck out
Aviators relievers
Joseph, who ranks second in the PCL in batting average but was hitless in his first four at-bats, then laced a 2-2 pitch from Quackenbush (2-4) down the right-field line for a double. Campbell raced all the way around from first and barely beat the relay throw home to tie the game at 9-9. After
Bolt cruised home with the winning run, then immediately pivoted and made a beeline for second base, where he and his teammates mobbed Brown in another mass celebration that has become commonplace in what has been a magical inaugural season.
GAME NOTES: Las Vegas finished the homestand 4-3, including taking three of four from Oklahoma City. … Campbell had a monster series against the Dodgers, going 11-for-15 with three homers, a double, four walks and 10 RBI. … Payton now has four multi-home run games this season, all since July 13. … Taylor was mired in a 2-for-26 slump before his two-run homer in the fifth. … Aviators third baseman
TRANSACTION ACTION: Prior to Monday's game, Aviators shortstop
Las Vegas filled the roster spots with Heim and infielder
ON DECK: The PCL has a scheduled off-day Tuesday, but the Aviators will board a mid-morning flight to Iowa, where they'll begin a three-game series against the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday. Las Vegas right-hander
Following the series in Iowa, the Aviators will head to Omaha, Nebraska, for a four-game series against the Storm Chasers from Saturday through August 13. After an off-day August 14, the Aviators will return to Las Vegas Ballpark for a seven-game homestand against Albuquerque (August 15-18) and Reno (August 19-21).
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