The Las Vegas Aviators took the lead in their series against the Iowa Cubs on Thursday night with an 8-4 win.
Ken Waldichuk started on the mound for Las Vegas. The Aviators had a great defensive play to end the inning. Left fielder Cooper Bowman threw to shortstop Max Shuemann, who threw to catcher Bryan Lavastida to get the runner out at home for the third out. Connor Noland took the mound for the Cubs and walked one batter.
Junior Perez recorded the first hit of the game for the Aviators in the bottom of the second. He was thrown out in a double play. Lavastida followed with a single, stole second and was left on base. The team’s defense continued to make quick decisions as they threw out James Triantos, who was caught stealing second base.
The Aviators put runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Euribiel Angeles sparked the hitting streak with a single. Drew Swift reached on a fielder’s choice. Shane McGuire doubled to right field, scoring Angeles. Colby Halter hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Swift. Perez ended the inning with a two-run homer to center field, putting the Aviators up 4-0.
Iowa scored three runs in the fifth inning. Chase Strumpf walked, stole second and made it home on an RBI single. With two outs, Triantos hit a two-run homer. The Cubs closed the Aviators’ lead to just one run with a score of 3-4. McGuire tallied his second hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth with a double to center field. Schuemann followed with a single and stole second. Halter walked, and the Aviators had the bases loaded with one out. Perez knocked one out of the park for a grand slam, his second homer of the game. After walking Lavastida, Noland was replaced by Caleb Kilian on the mound. The Aviators extended their lead to 8-3.
Carlos Duran pitched in the sixth inning for Las Vegas and caused two groundouts and one lineout. Swift got his first hit of the game with a single in the bottom of the sixth. Nate Pearson started on the mound for the Cubs in the seventh inning, but the Aviators couldn’t find a way to get on base.
Scott McGough replaced Duran for the Aviators pitching in the top of the eighth. Jonathon Long hit an RBI single. The Cubs made it a 4-8 game. Luke Little entered the game for Pearson on the mound. Las Vegas had two groundouts, a walk and a strikeout. The Cubs had three groundouts in the top of the ninth to finish the game. Las Vegas won 8-4.
Waldichuck earned the win. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowed five hits, three runs, one home run and struck out four batters. Perez led the team with three hits and two home runs.
