After scoring 20 runs on Thursday in Salt Lake City, the Las Vegas 51s returned home from their 4-3 road trip to play the Sacramento River Cats and picked up where they left off the night before.
Jake Peavy, rehabbing with Sacramento, started for the River Cats, and issued a lead off walk to second baseman Daniel Muno. Shortstop Wilfredo Tovar followed with a line drive single to center. With centerfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis batting, Peavy threw a pitch in the dirt which resulted in a passed ball by catcher Trevor Brown, moving up both runners. And after hitting two home runs on Thursday, Nieuwenhuis took Peavy’s next pitch and hit a no-doubter over the wall in right center, driving in three.
Right fielder Alex Castellanos followed with a single and was driven home when first baseman Brooks Conrad doubled. Peavy finally recorded his first out with a strikeout of left fielder Brandon Allen. Then third baseman T.J. Rivera singled to left driving in Conrad to round out a five-run first inning.
The 51s scored a single run in the second on back to back doubles by Nieuwenhuis and Castellanos.
Peavy quelled the Vegas offense for the next four innings before being pinch hit for in the top of the seventh.
Las Vegas starter right-hander Matthew Bowman kept the River Cats scoreless for the first three innings. He was aided by a double play in both the second and third innings. Bowman gave up one run in the fourth by allowing three Sacramento singles, the run being driven in by third baseman Kevin Frandsen. Bowman put up two more zeroes before surrendering an unearned run in the seventh. Left fielder Jarrett Parker singled and then advanced on an odd error by Muno who threw a ground ball away and then stood idly instead of going to retrieve the ball from Conrad. Bowman finished with a line of two runs, one earned, in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four to earn his fifth win of the season.
Zach Thornton pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with two strikouts. Chase Bradford pitched the eighth, starting by striking out right fielder Mac Williamson. Then he gave up a single to Parker which Nieuwenhuis misplayed in center allowing Parker to come all the way around and score. Bradford then struck out the next two batters to close out the win.
Nieuwenhuis went 2-4with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Castellanos and Rivera each had a single and double, driving in a run apiece.
The four game series continues Saturday with lefty Darin Gorski taking the mound.
(All photos by Cirilo Maldonado)