Las Vegas Aviators win first home game

The minor league baseball team defeats the Salt Lake Bees in their home opener.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:19am

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The Las Vegas Aviators, the city's minor league baseball team, won their first home game of the 2026 season on Friday, March 27th. The Aviators defeated the visiting Salt Lake Bees in front of a packed home crowd at their downtown stadium.

Why it matters

The Aviators' home opener is an important milestone for the young franchise, which is looking to build a loyal fanbase and establish itself as a popular local sports team in the rapidly growing Las Vegas market.

The details

The final score was 7-4, with the Aviators rallying in the late innings to secure the victory. Rookie outfielder Javier Hernandez hit a go-ahead 3-run homer in the 8th inning to give the Aviators the lead for good.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • It was the Aviators' first home game of the 2026 season.

The players

Las Vegas Aviators

The minor league baseball team representing Las Vegas, playing in the Pacific Coast League.

Salt Lake Bees

The minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, playing in the Pacific Coast League and visiting Las Vegas for the game.

Javier Hernandez

A rookie outfielder for the Las Vegas Aviators who hit the go-ahead 3-run homer in the 8th inning to secure the win.

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What they’re saying

“It was an incredible feeling to get that big hit in front of our home crowd. The energy in the stadium was electric and I'm so proud we could give the fans a win in our first game here.”

— Javier Hernandez, Aviators Outfielder

What’s next

The Aviators will look to build on this momentum as they continue their homestand against the Bees over the next three games.

The takeaway

The Aviators' home opener victory is an exciting start to the team's season and a promising sign that they can develop a strong local fanbase in Las Vegas, a city that has embraced its new professional sports franchises with enthusiasm.