Dustin Fowler leads Las Vegas to win over Chihuahuas in opener

Dustin Fowler hit a pair of home runs Thursday night to help the Las Vegas Aviators beat the Chihuahuas by a final of 9-8 to begin the 2019 season.

The Chihuahuas were the first team to get on the board courtesy of a Ty France solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.

But the fun was just beginning in this back-and-forth contest that featured 17 combined runs and 28 total hits.

Las Vegas would score three runs in the top of the fifth only to see their 3-1 lead erased on one swing of the bat by Esteban Quiroz in the bottom half of the inning. Quiroz would smash a three-run homer to help the Dogs take a 4-3 lead.

Ty France would continue his stellar evening in the bottom of the seventh when he tallied a two-run double to tie the game at six a piece.

But the Aviators answered with three runs in the next two innings to take a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

The Chihuahuas would nearly complete a dramatic comeback thanks again to France. He would begin the fun in the bottom of the ninth with a sac fly, tallying his fourth RBI of the game to cut it to a 9-7 game.

The Chihuahuas then added another run on a Jason Vosler RBI single to pull within one run.

But the rally would come up just a bit short in the end as Las Vegas was able to close the deal and claim their first victory of the season.

The two teams will play again Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Southwest University Park.