Aviators Fly Over River Cats in Series Opener

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Six consecutive run-scoring innings, four of which were multi-run frames, were too much for the Sacramento River Cats to overcome as the Las Vegas Aviators controlled the series opener by a score of 14-2 on Tuesday.

Pitching for the River Cats (2-2) had been stiff throughout the first series of the year, even in the loss during the series finale, but struggled in the opener against the Aviators (3-1) beyond the first inning. Starter Carson Ragsdale (0-1) retired the first five hitters he saw, but then allowed each of the next five to reach which chased him from the game and left him on the hook for the loss.

Sacramento’s bullpen had not allowed a run through their first 14.1 combined innings entering the game, and even though the River Cats pushed their scoreless streak out to 15.1 innings, the streak come to an end when Daniel Susac and Denzel Clarke produced consecutive hits to drive in a pair of runs.

The largest inning of the night for Las Vegas came in the fifth when they managed a quartet of runs, a frame that was highlighted by the second homer of the season for both Drew Avans and Nick Kurtz. While the first was a solo blast, the latter of which was a two-run shot.

Walks were also a large key in the contest with the River Cats issuing 15 base on balls, their most since they handed out a franchise record 16 free passes on April 18, 2023 against Round Rock.

Hunter Bishop drove in Sacramento’s first run with a double in the fifth on a shallow fly ball that saw Las Vegas left fielder Avans dove for the ball but drop it upon rolling on the ground, allowing Brett Auerbach to score all the way from first.

An inning later in the sixth and Sacramento managed just one more run, though they had the opportunity for more with the bases loaded with a pair of singles and a fielder’s choice in which Marco Luciano reached base. Brett Auerbach extended his RBI streak to four games (five total) with an RBI groundout, but a double play brought immediately after brought the frame to an end.

Jake Lamb collected two of Sacramento’s five hits, and he has now hit safely in all four games while going a combined 6-for-15 (.400). Brett Wisely scored a run and ended his night 1-for-4, while Luciano also earned a base knock to close the night 1-for-4.

Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday, with first pitch of game two from Las Vegas Ballpark set for 6:35 p.m. (PT).