Viva Las Vegas: A's Triple-A affiliate soars to first title since 1988
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“Let the celebration begin at Las Vegas Ballpark!”
Russ Langer is nearing the completion of his 25th season calling Triple-A Las Vegas games but for the first time since he’s donned the headset, and the club's first time since 1988, the Aviators can call themselves league champions.
On the back of home runs by Ryan Lasko (ATH No. 17) and Luke Mann, the Athletics affiliate rode a dominant performance from its bullpen on Wednesday night to capture the Pacific Coast League championship with a 7-3 win over the Tacoma Rainiers at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Las Vegas manager Fran Riordan had to turn to his bullpen in the third inning with the possibility of a winner-take-all Game 3 looming. But the trio of Tyler Baum, David Leal and Jake Walkinshaw combined to spin 6 2/3 hitless frames against the Mariners' prospects from that point forward.
Mascot Spruce the Goose partied on the field. Fellow compatriot The Aviator danced alongside him. Players shed their white uniforms for orange PCL champions t-shirts. In a year that featured jerseys from the sleeveless Cone Jesters to Reyes de Plata of Copa de la Diversión and everything in between, it all culminated in Athletics talent winning a championship.
A lot can happen over the course of a Minor League season. Las Vegas began the year in late March with Nick Kurtz -- one of the odds-on favorites to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award -- mashing in the middle of its order. Darell Hernaiz hit third in the club’s Opening Day lineup. J.T. Ginn was the starter that night and Denzel Clarke held down center field.
With that collection of future big league talent in tow, the Aviators were a force during the first half. They won 10 in a row from April 25-May 6, finishing with a 49-26 record and a +176 run differential to nab their first first-half title since 1992.
The roster continued to churn. Max Muncy, Zack Gelof, JJ Bleday and even Jacob Wilson made second-half appearances. None of those players were part of the PCL-winning lineup, but in many ways, they helped lay the foundation.
In short, the road that leads to West Sacramento has included a stop in Vegas. And that stop just got paved with a bit more glittering gold.
In total, the club’s 83 regular-season wins tied its most since 2002. Even in the traditionally offense-heavy PCL, Las Vegas was a step above the rest, leading the circuit in runs (978), hits (1,519) and average (.288).
But the Aviators aren’t done yet. There’s one game left on the entire Minor League docket in 2025 and it comes Saturday night. They’ll face the winner of the International League’s Championship Series -- either Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) or Jacksonville (Marlins) -- in the Triple-A National Championship. And they won’t have to travel very far with the contest taking place in their home yard, beginning at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Purchase tickets here or watch the contest for free on MLB.TV, MiLB.com and atop this story.