Aviators offense stays hot in 13-8 win

Six-run third puts Las Vegas back in control

Sugar Land erased the early deficit in the third.

Sauer loaded the bases before Jake Garland entered with one out. Joey Loperfido greeted Garland with a three-run double that tied the game 4-4.

Las Vegas responded with six runs in the bottom half.

Meneses hit his 16th home run to put the Aviators back ahead. Buelvas followed with a double before Cole Conn drove him home with another double for a 6-4 lead.

Jack Winkler reached on a fielder’s choice and Mann walked before Diaz lined a two-run single to right. Mann later scored on a wild pitch before Dickey singled home Diaz.

By the end of the third, Las Vegas had scored 10 runs on nine hits and built a 10-4 lead.

Diaz, Conn stay hot

Diaz followed his six-RBI performance Wednesday with another productive night.

The 23-year-old catcher went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, giving him nine RBIs over the first two games of the series. His sixth-inning single drove in Conn for Las Vegas’ final run.

Conn also stayed productive, finishing 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs.

Meneses went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs and three runs. Buelvas finished 3-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBIs and two runs.

Garland settles game in relief

Sauer allowed four runs on two hits and four walks over 2 1/3 innings.

Garland entered with the bases loaded in the third and allowed Loperfido’s game-tying double. He settled in afterward and worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Garland earned the win and improved to 3-0.

Hayden Juenger allowed one run in the sixth before Joe Rock and Luis Morales each worked a scoreless inning.

Sugar Land scored twice against Geoff Hartlieb in the ninth, but Las Vegas had already built enough separation.

Up next

The Aviators continue the six-game series Friday at 7:05 p.m. PDT at Las Vegas Ballpark.