Las Vegas Closes Out First Half With 6th Straight Win 5-4

The 51s sweep of the five game series against the Salt Lake Bees is not remarkable in and of itself. The Bees are in last place in the PCL Pacific Southern Division with a record of 34-57. Las Vegas is the only team over .500 in the division, and holds an eight game lead over second place El Paso. But considering all the flux in the 51s roster this season, it is a testament to manager Wally Backman and his staff that this team has continued to play well as so many players have been back and forth to the big club, mostly due to injuries. Granted they did suffer a 10-game losing streak in late May/early June. But this was preceded by a 14-game winning streak in late April/early May.

As the first half came to an end, Backman decided to get much of his pitching staff some work Saturday night. Instead of going with a single starter, he employed a committee of eight pitchers. Matthew Bowman pitched a scoreless first, followed by Darin Gorski in the second. Vic Black came on for the next two innings, giving up three runs and relinquishing the 2-0 lead the offense had produced. The 51s took the lead again in the bottom of the fourth inning, handing Black an ironic win. Cody Satterwhite and Chase Bradford followed, contributing a scoreless inning each. Chase Huchingson took over in the seventh, giving up a run. Huchingson started the eighth giving up a soft single hit to third baseman T.J. Rivera. Rivera’s throw to first baseman Brooks Conrad was wide of the base and got away from Conrad. Backman called for Zack Thornton to finish the inning. After a sac bunt and a runner reaching on an error by shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, Thornton was able to escape without further damage, getting a strikeout and groundout to end the inning. John Church pitched a scoreless ninth to notch the save.

On the offensive side, the first inning lead came via a one-out single by Rivera followed by left fielder Alex Castellanos and catcher Anthony Recker reaching on consecutive errors by Salt Lake third baseman Kyle Kubitza. Designated hitter Jayce Boyd capitalized on the base loaded situation driving in two with an RBI single.

Conrad was hit by a pitch to start the fourth. Then centerfielder Cory Vaughn blasted a two-run homer to left to give the 51s the lead for good. A walk to Conrad in the fifth, and an RBI single by Tovar, produced a big insurance run as Huchingson ended up allowing that single run in the seventh. The final score was 5-4.

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Matt Reynolds and Travis Taijeron were both selected for the PCL All-Star squad. Reynolds is nursing an elbow strain and will not participate. Taijeron will be the 51s only representative during the All-Star festivities. The Futures Game will feature only AA players Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto.

The following 51s players have spent time with the Mets at some time during the season so far:

Syndergaard and Matz were both plugged into the Mets starting rotation to stay (until Matz’ recent injury).

Las Vegas will resume the season after the break on July 16th in Albuquerque.

(photos by Cirilo Maldonado)

Written by Jennifer Nieves