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PCL1 Las Vegas Aviators

Aviators Rout Grizzlies 16-3 for 7th Consecutive Road Win

June 28, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Las Vegas Aviators News Release


Ask any Aviators player, from the youngest guy on the roster to the most seasoned veteran, and they'll all tell you the same thing - for that matter, so will everyone on the coaching staff: They absolutely love playing at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Given the new ballpark's incredible amenities and the tremendous fan support the team has received, there's zero reason to doubt their sincerity. There's also zero reason to doubt this team also feels quite at home on the road.

After Thursday's 16-3 destruction of the Fresno Grizzlies - the squad's third blowout win in as many days in Fresno - Las Vegas (45-35) has now won 13 of its last 17 road games, including the last seven in a row. For the season, the Aviators are 25-15 on the highway, good for the third best road mark in the 16-team Pacific Coast League. And by taking the first three games of a series that concludes Friday, they've also now won or split 11 of their first 13 road series.

As if the consistent road success wasn't impressive enough, the manner in which Las Vegas has been winning away from home lately has been downright laughable. Get this: During their seven-game road winning streak, the Aviators have outscored their hosts (Nashville, Memphis and Fresno) by a total of 51 runs (83-32); they've recorded double-digit hits in all seven games; and they've scored double-digit runs in each of the last six. They've also hit at least one homer in eight straight road contests.

In just the last three games at Fresno, Las Vegas has outscored the Grizzlies (40-40) by a combined tally of 37-13 while racking up 51 hits, including 23 for extra bases (nine doubles, five triples, nine home runs). And it's been a complete team effort, so much so that seven different players have recorded at least five hits over the last three nights. In fact, in Thursday's rout, eight of the nine Aviators in the lineup had at least two hits, and six had at least three knocks.

Among the hitting heroes in the series: Dustin Fowler (5-for-9), Corban Joseph (5-for-11), Seth Brown (5-for-11), Franklin Barreto (6-for-16), Skye Bolt (5-for-10), Jonah Heim (7-for-10) and Mark Payton (6-for-13). In addition to their 39 hits, those seven players have accounted for 25 runs, eight doubles, five triples, five home runs and 25 RBI.

Throw in a four-game series back in mid-April, and Las Vegas now owns a 5-2 record in Fresno, scoring at least eight runs in six of those seven contests (including nine or more in all five wins). The good news for the Grizzlies and their fans? They only have to deal with the second coming of the 1927 Yankees one more time, as Friday's game at Chukchansi Park marks the final meeting of the season between the two teams.

Should the Aviators continue their offensive onslaught in the series finale, don't be surprised if they get a police escort out of town - not to mention a bill to cover the cost of replacing a worn-out home plate.

LUZARDO SHARP IN VICTORY: Overshadowed by Thursday's 16-run, 23-hit outburst was the performance of southpaw starter Jesús Luzardo. In his second start for Las Vegas, Luzardo picked up his first victory after allowing just two runs on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts in five innings. He threw 66 pitches, including 42 for strikes.

Relievers Trey McNutt and Kyle Lobstein covered the final four innings and yielded just one unearned run on two hits and three walks. For the series, the Aviators' bullpen has pitched 11 2/3 innings and surrendered just two runs (one earned) on eight hits and seven walks while striking out 12.

BACK TO THE HIT PARADE: Including Monday's 15-6 thrashing of the Sacramento River Cats in the finale of a five-game homestand, the Aviators have scored in double figures in four straight games, winning all four. Going back to June 15, Las Vegas is on a 9-3 roll, scoring in double digits in eight of those victories. The team has also homered in 12 of its last 13 games.

Including only active players who have appeared in at least 35 games, seven Aviators are now batting .300 or better, led by Joseph, whose .382 average is tops in the PCL. The other six players are Nick Martini (.327), Bolt (.327), Sheldon Neuse (.330), Jorge Mateo (.316), Payton (.302) and Barreto (.300).

LEADERS OF THE PACK: The rest of the PCL is now looking up at Las Vegas in virtually every offensive category. The Aviators lead the league in team batting average (.300), runs (563), hits (864), doubles (192), triples (37), RBI (537) and on-base percentage (.375). They also rank second in OPS (.891) and slugging percentage (.516), and third in walks (325)

STILL STREAKING: Not surprisingly, a host of Aviators are riding hitting streaks and hot runs. Also not surprisingly, Joseph is leading the charge, with at least one hit in 11 consecutive games (including nine multi-hit contests). During the streak, the veteran infielder is 23-for-45 (.511) with 16 runs, seven doubles, one homer and 12 RBI. Joseph has appeared in 18 games in June and hit safely in 17 of them.

Barreto is also riding an 11-game hitting streak, going 20-for-54 (.370) with 15 runs, eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 14 RBI. Meanwhile, Neuse has hit safely in 12 of his last 14, going 30-for-60 (.500) with five homers, four doubles, 15 RBI and 18 runs; Bolt has a hit in 10 of his last 12, going 18-for-52 (.346); Heim has hit safely in nine of his last 10, going 16-for-28 (.571); and Flower has a hit in seven of his last eight in which he's had an official at-bat, going 14-for-32 (.438) with four homers, three doubles, two triples, 13 RBI and 16 runs.

TRANSACTION ACTION: As expected, the Oakland Athletics - the Aviators' parent club - recalled Las Vegas starting pitcher Daniel Mengden in time to start Wednesday's game in St. Louis. The right-hander threw a gem, scattering four hits and a walk over six scoreless while striking out five in Oakland's 2-0 victory.

To make room for Mengden on their 25-man roster, the A's optioned reliever J.B. Wendelken back to Las Vegas.

ON DECK: Jake Buchanan (3-5, 5.72 ERA) returns to the mound Friday for the first time since Sunday, when he struck out eight in seven innings (both season highs). He's scheduled to oppose fellow right-hander Joe Ross (2-0, 2.65 ERA), with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Following Friday's game, the Aviators will board a bus and return to Las Vegas to start a five-game homestand against the instate rival Reno Aces. Saturday's series opener, which is Aviators Jersey Night, is sold out. First pitch for all five games is 7:05 p.m., including the series finale July 3, which is the team's annual Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza.

Catch every Aviators game throughout the season on NBC Sports Radio 920-AM, and follow us on Twitter @AviatorsLV.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 28, 2019


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