Aviators Hold Off Baby Cakes 9-7, Pull Closer to First Place

Las Vegas Ballpark hasn't been particularly kind to pitchers this season, and nobody could attest to that more than Tanner Anderson.
Prior to Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Baby Cakes, the Aviators' right-hander had a 3-3 record but a 6.99 ERA and in nine home appearances (eight starts). And Anderson's previous three starts at the ballpark were particularly rough, as he surrendered 15 runs (14 earned) on 22 hits (including five home runs) and 10 walks in just 13 1/3 innings.
So needless to say, Anderson was in dire need of some positive results when he took the mound Wednesday night against New Orleans. And that's exactly what he got.
Anderson held the Baby Cakes to three runs in six solid innings and benefitted from nine early runs to lead Las Vegas to a 9-7 victory before a crowd of 7,131. Not only did the Aviators (63-46) even their three-game series with New Orleans, but coupled with El Paso's 7-6 loss in Nashville, they pulled back to within one game of the first-place Chihuahuas in the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division.
While the offense exploded for nine runs in the first four innings - thanks in part to home runs by Corban Joseph and Cameron Rupp - Anderson's performance was as crucial (and impressive) as anything. Not only did the 26-year-old match his season high in innings, but he scattered seven hits (including five singles), struck out five and - most importantly - didn't walk a batter.
The only real mistake Anderson (7-5) made was in the third inning, when New Orleans left fielder Peter O'Brien belted a 3-2 pitch over the center-field fence for solo homer. Although the next two Baby Cakes reached base on a hit batter and a double, Anderson retired the next two batters. That started a stretch in which he retired 10 of 11 hitters, the lone blemish being an infield single.
Of course, it helped that Anderson was staked to early leads of 4-0 and 9-2 in what turned out to be a strange, all-or-nothing night for the Aviators' offense. They sent nine men to the plate in both the first and fourth innings, scoring a combined nine runs against New Orleans starter Robert Dugger (2-3) and reliever Jordan Milbrath. Joseph delivered the big blow in the opening inning, a three-run homer that flew over the Baby Cakes' bullpen in deep right-center field, while Rupp keyed the five-run fourth with a two-run blast to center. Also, Seth Brown contributed RBI singles during each rally.
However, aside from the first and fourth innings, Las Vegas' offense sputtered, otherwise generating just two hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings. In fact, Dugger and Milbrath retired Las Vegas in order in the second, third and fifth innings, with Milbrath also getting the first two hitters in the sixth before Stephen Piscotty singled.
While New Orleans (56-51) did chip away at the 9-2 lead, scoring a run in the sixth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth, the Aviators were able to hang on, as southpaw reliever Kyle Lobstein picked up his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
GAME NOTES: Shortstop Jorge Mateo left the game in the top of the seventh inning after rolling his ankle. After the game, Aviators manager Fran Riordan said the PCL All-Star is day-to-day. … Brown (2-for-4, run, 2 RBI), Piscotty (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Rupp (2-for-4, 2-run HR) each had two hits for Las Vegas … Brown and Neuse both ran their hitting streaks to eight games, while Joseph (seven games) and Payton (five games) also extended hitting streaks. During their hot runs, Brown is 15-for-34 (.441) with eight homers and 15 RBI; Neuse is 15-for-36 (.417) with two doubles, a homer, eight RBI and seven runs; Joseph is 15-for-34 with two homers, four doubles, nine RBI and six runs; and Payton is 10-for-21 with three homers, seven RBI and seven runs … Joseph continues to lead the PCL with a .382 average. … Aviators right-hander Trey McNutt relieved Anderson in the seventh and had a bizarre inning, giving up three runs on a double, triple and home run while also striking out the side.  
MARTINI, TAYLOR GET THE CALL: For the second time this summer, Aviators outfielder Nick Martini and catcher Beau Taylor were promoted to the big leagues, as both were recalled Wednesday by the Oakland A's. The duo will take the roster spots of outfielder Ramón Laureano (right leg) and catcher Josh Phegley (thumb), both of whom were placed on the 10-day injured list.
 
To fill Taylor's spot on the Aviators' roster, Oakland elevated catcher Jordan Devencenzi from Class-A Stockton. In 55 games with the Ports, Devencenzi was hitting .235 with a homer, four doubles and 18 RBI.
In other transaction news, relief pitcher Brian Schlitter, whom the A's designated for assignment on Monday, cleared waivers Wednesday and was optioned to Las Vegas. Schlitter, who pitched in 27 games with the Aviators before being called up June 23, still leads Las Vegas with 10 saves. He's expected to rejoin the club Thursday.
INJURY UPDATES: Riordan said prior to Wednesday's game that the team was still awaiting the X-ray results on catcher Sean Murphy's left knee. Murphy, who missed nearly three months this season after having surgery to repair torn meniscus in the knee, was forced to leave Tuesday's game after ripping a two-run double off the right-field wall in the seventh inning. Riordan said it's believed Murphy actually reinjured the knee an inning earlier while trying to score from third on an errant pitch.
Murphy had been on a tear since being activated July 25, going 8-for-15 with six home runs, 13 RBI, seven runs and three walks. With Murphy and fellow catcher Jonah Heim (hamstring) hurt, and with Taylor in Oakland, Rupp will handle the majority of the catching duties, with Devencenzi serving as the backup. In fact, without Murphy, Heim, Taylor, Martini and outfielder Skye Bolt (thumb injury), Devencenzi was the only position player available on the Aviators' bench Wednesday. And after Mateo exited in the seventh, Devencenzi was pressed into action, singling in his only at-bat.
The good news is Bolt took batting practice prior to Wednesday's game and might return to action Thursday, when he's eligible to come off the injured list. If that happens, Bolt will assume Martini's roster spot. Meanwhile, Riordan said Heim tested his hamstring by running the bases Wednesday and is slated to go through additional running drills Friday and Saturday. If all goes well, Heim could be activated as early as Sunday.
Finally, Riordan said 21-year-old pitcher Jesús Luzardo, who is regarded as the top left-handed pitching prospect in all of baseball, is progressing well in his recovery from a strained lat muscle. Luzardo has begun a throwing program, and while there's no timetable for his return to the mound, Riordan said that so long as the 21-year-old doesn't encounter any setbacks in his recovery, he should pitch again for Las Vegas at some point this season.
ATTENDANCE MILESTONE: With Wednesday night's crowd, the Aviators eclipsed the half-million mark in total attendance during their inaugural season at Las Vegas Ballpark. A total of 500,711 fans have passed through the turnstiles, as Las Vegas continues to lead all of minor league baseball in total and per-game (9,272) attendance. Prior to this year, the franchise's top attendance mark was 387,815, set back in 1992.
ON DECK: The Aviators and Baby Cakes conclude their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Las Vegas Ballpark. Brian Howard (0-0, 36.00 ERA) is set to make his second career Triple-A start for Las Vegas and will be opposed by fellow right-hander Cody Poteet (0-0, 3.90). Following Thursday's contest, the Aviators will conclude their homestand with a four-game series Friday-Monday against the Oklahoma City Dodgers, the top affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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