Neuse’s homer leads Aviators past Salt Lake
Sheldon Neuse hit a three-run homer and Jorge Mateo added a two-run single as the Las Vegas Aviators beat the Salt Lake Bees 5-2 on Friday in a Pacific Coast League game at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City.
Neuse’s one-out drive to right-center field, his 18th home run of the season, came in the first inning and gave the Aviators (57-42) all the runs they would need.
After the Bees (42-57) scratched for single runs in the first and second, Mateo pushed the lead back up to three with his two-out single to center in the seventh.
Starter James Naile (2-0) picked up the win with five innings of work. The right-hander gave up five hits, four walks and two earned runs while striking out four. Five relievers combined in a scoreless effort over the final four innings, with Kyle Finnegan fanning two in the ninth for his second save.
Bees starter Jose Suarez (2-1) suffered the loss.
In addition to his homer, Neuse had a pair of singles as the Aviators won for the fifth time in their past seven games.
Taylor Ward and Ty Kelly had two hits each for Salt Lake.