By Kirk Kern
Two of the hottest teams in the early going of the Pacific Coast League season will face in a four-game series beginning Friday night at the Las Vegas Ballpark as the Aviators will take on the Fresno Grizzlies, the AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
The Grizzlies have started the season 6-2 after their 5-4 loss to Salt Lake on Thursday afternoon. The Aviators entered Thursday night’s series finale against Sacramento winners of six of seven games, the only loss being a Sunday game in El Paso.
The Grizzlies boast top shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom, who ranks second in the Nationals’ system and 25th in all the minors. He is also the 6th ranked shortstop amongst minor leaguers. He has started strong in his first turn at AAA, batting .300.
Along with Kieboom, other members of the Top 30 on the Grizzlies’ roster are pitcher Tanner Rainey (19th), Raudy Reed (20th) and Kyle McGowin (30th). The Nationals’ system ranks 14th overall. Outfielder Collin Cowgill has played in 317 games in the Major Leagues and has spent quite a few years on various Pacific Coast League teams.
Leading the way for the Grizzlies is pitcher Austin Voth, 1-0 in two starts with a 1.80 earned run average. McGowin, who is scheduled to pitch on Monday against the Aviators, also has a 1-0 record in two starts, with a 1.93 ERA.
Outfielder Alec Keller is batting .381 through six games and third baseman Jacob Wilson, infielder Matt Reynolds and outfielder Yadiel Hernandez each have two home runs.
Through six games for the Aviators, pitcher Jake Buchanan is 2-0 with a 1.50 earned run average and Daniel Mengden is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Outfielder Mark Payton is batting .455 with four home runs and 13 runs batted in for the Aviators, while Dustin Fowler also has four home runs and 12 RBI to go along with a .406 average.
The pitching matchup for Friday is the Aviators Tyler Alexander (0-0, 0.00) against Paolo Espino (1-0, 0.00). On Saturday, Las Vegas’ Tanner Anderson (0.0, 13.50) faces Brady Dragmire (0-0, 11.12). On Sunday, only Las Vegas’ Chris Bassett (0-0, 3.00) has been announced and on Monday only McGowin (1-0, 1.93) has been announced for the Grizzlies.
All games except Sunday (12:05 p.m.) will begin at 7:05 p.m.
Promotions for the series are as follows:
* Friday, inaugural log item and magnetic schedule
* Saturday, Aviator item and magnetic schedule
* Sunday, Sunday family day, aviator sunglasses
* Monday, inaugural Aviator team photo