Sometimes there’s a feeling around a AAA team after the most vaunted stars have made the jump to the big leagues. There’s a tiny hint of a let down. Call-ups and free agents arrive to fill the holes. Then, there’s the scent of opportunity. Who will step up as the season winds down?
The Las Vegas 51s (50-77), post-Smith and Rosario, way out of the playoff picture, have been showing signs of life. They are 7-3 in the 10 games since the call-up of Dominic Smith, who shortly followed Amed Rosario to the Mets.
They returned home to Cashman field Saturday with a different looking team to face the first place Salt Lake Bees. That team included second baseman Jeff McNeil recently promoted from single-A St. Lucie, regular third baseman Phillip Evans shifted over to shortstop, and recently signed veteran Travis Snider in left field. Some new faces have appeared in the bullpen.
Las Vegas sent Jonathan Albaladejo to the mound for his fifth start of the season. He got off to a rough start, giving up four consecutive hits, including three for extra bases, and three runs, all before recording an out. After retiring the next three batters to end the inning, Albaladejo gave up a lead off home run to start the second, putting his team in a 4-run hole. But the 51s’ offense was there to pick him up in the bottom of the inning. After two walks, third-baseman Josh Rodriguez lifted a home run to left center to bring Vegas within one. The 51s tied the game at 4-4 on a single by first baseman Cody Decker in the bottom of the fifth. He drove in centerfielder Victor Cruzado who had singled and stolen second.
Albaladejo settled down to keep the Bees scoreless for the next four and two-thirds. But he was relieved in the sixth with two on and two out. Ben Rowen was summoned to get the last out and he did so with a strikeout.
After rightfielder Travis Taijeron walked to lead off the sixth, designated hitter Jayce Boyd homered to give the 51s the lead at 6-4. Rowen had a shaky start to the seventh when he gave up a run on back-to-back doubles allowing Salt Lake to come within a run. But second baseman Jeff McNeil’s leaping snag of a liner, and doubling the runner off second, defused the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh McNeil reached on an error and went to third on a double by shortstop Phillip Evans. With one out, left fielder Travis Snider singled up the middle to score McNeil and Evans. Singles by Taijeron and Boyd loaded the bases. Then catcher Xorge Carrillo came through with two outs, singling in Snider and Taijeron to increase the lead to 10-5.
Newly signed reliever Neil Wagner pitched a scoreless eighth. And recently acquired righty Jamie Callahan came on to close out the win in the ninth. It took a little help from his defense. After Callahan issued a leadoff walk, he gave up a double to left. Snider had to chase down the ball, but hit the cutoff man Evans who relayed the ball home to Carrillo to cut down the runner. Two fly balls to right followed to close out the win for Las Vegas. Ben Rowen was credited with the win.
Top Performers:
Jayce Boyd went 3-3 with a home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, and a walk. Victor Cruzado was 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Phillip Evans was 2-5 with a run scored. Josh Rodriguez homered and drove in 3.
Las Vegas will continue their series against Salt Lake Sunday with Donovan Hand on the mound.
