The Las Vegas Aviators found themselves down 5-0 in the first inning against the Reno Aces at Las Vegas Ballpark on Friday night. By the end of the third they led 7-5 in a wild one that required an extra inning and another Aviators’ comeback. With the Aviators down to their last out, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer walked after winning a challenge, and Drew Swift drew a walk to load the bases for Joey Meneses, who doubled in the tying and winning runs on Fireworks and Military Veterans Appreciation Night at the ballpark.

That’s how hot the Aviators are, who remain a game behind Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) at 34-25 despite losing two of their best pitchers to MLB callups. They’ve won eight of their last 10 games, as Las Vegas dominated the Pacific Coast League for the week of May 18-24. Cade Marlowe was named (PCL) Player of the Week, and starter Gage Jump won PCL Pitcher of the Week before being called up to The Show, where he’s 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA over 12 innings pitched for the Athletics. Following Jump to the majors was righty Kade Morris, who as of this writing is yet to pitch for the A’s, but was 5-3 with a 4.45 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 11 starts spanning 60.2 innings with the Aviators. 

They did all this without Marlowe – their hottest hitter – who had a scheduled day off. He was inserted as a defensive replacement to play center field in the top of the eighth inning, and his hitting streak ended at seven games after a popout in the bottom of the 10th. Marlowe credits the hitting philosophy of the Athletics’ organization for his outstanding season, in which he’s hitting .318 with a .929 OPS.

“It’s a new organization, so it’s kind of a new hitting philosophy, but I love the philosophy from the top down, and the coaches I get to work with every day here are great, and my teammates are great. It’s just a fun environment,” he said. “I’ve been with Seattle the last however many years, and it’s more of a high-flight philosophy there, and here it’s more of a low and hard the other way, and the homers and extra-base hits will come.”

Of Marlowe’s 62 hits, 29 have gone for extra bases. He’s got four more doubles than he did all of last year – a year in which he played just one more game than he has this season. He also has 26 more hits than he did all of last season.

“Playing here in the ballpark is really nice. The ball flies really well here at the elevation and, you know, the dry air. It’s really fun,” Marlowe beamed. “The fans are good, and, I mean, I love the weekend games when the fans come out and the atmosphere is great.”

When asked if he thought MLB players would enjoy living in Las Vegas when the Athletics make the move in 2028, Marlowe said they would, but doesn’t expect them to partake in much of the nightlife Vegas has to offer. 

“I think nowadays, athletes and baseball players, we play so many games that we put a lot of focus into our recovery and our sleep…so I don’t think the gambling or the nightlife is going to be a problem,” he said. “There’s plenty of nice places to live, and I think the fans are going to be great, and I think it’s just going to be a really good spot for the A’s.” 

Maybe the only thing keeping Marlowe in Triple-A is the fact he isn’t on the 40-man roster, which the Athletics are likely regretting given the production – or lack thereof – from their outfielders. Right fielder Lawrence Butler has just 24 hits in 151 at-bats while striking out 45 times. Marlowe doesn’t play a lot of right field, but any outfielder with nearly 150 innings in center field can play right just fine. Marlowe doesn’t let the business of baseball bother him, though.

“I just try to focus on what I can do here where I am, and you know just have fun wherever I’m at, and when the opportunity comes I’ll be ready for it,” he said, adding that his time in The Show was luxurious given the five-star hotels and clubhouse spreads, “but you know, being here in Las Vegas at Triple-A is pretty nice, too.”

Don’t be surprised if the A’s make a roster move to add Marlowe’s bat, as they sit 2.5 games back in the American League West and one game back of the final Wild Card spot.