Fans attending the Las Vegas 51s game vs. the Albuquerque Isotopes Saturday night received a Wally Backman 51s jersey. But Manager Backman did not make it to the end of the game, which the Isotopes won by a score of 6-5.

With the 51s leading 2-1 in the third inning, Andrew Brown‘s throw home, after catching a fly ball to right off the bat of Isotopes catcher Tim Federowicz, appeared to be in time to cut down Roger Bernadina at the plate, but he was called safe, tying the game. Backman engaged in an animated argument with home plate umpire Ryan Goodman before being ejected from the game.

The 51s retook the lead in the bottom of the third on a Josh Satin double, scoring Brown who walked with two outs. The Isotopes re-tied the game in the top of the 5th on a ground out off of Ryan Reid who came on to relieve starter Giancarlo Alvarado with two on and nobody out.

The 51s took the lead for a third time with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Back to back doubles by Wilmer Flores and Brandon Allen plated one run, then with two outs, a single by Cory Vaughn brought in the second run of the inning. This lead held up until the eighth inning when reliever John Church allowed three runs on two Isotopes home runs separated by a single, a walk and a wild pitch to take the loss.

The 51s go into the All-Star Break in first place with a 56-42 record, currently 9.5 games ahead of the El Paso Chihuahuas in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division. The Chihuahuas still have one game to play.

The 51s’ winning percentage of .571 is second only to the Sacramento River Cats who lead the PCL Pacific Northern Division with a record of 56-40, a winning percentage of .583, having played two fewer games than Las Vegas.

During the break, the 51s will be represented by pitcher Noah Syndergaard and catcher Kevin Plawecki in the MLB Futures Game, and by first baseman Allan Dykstra in the AAA All-Star Game.