With a magic number of one going into Thursday night’s game against the New Orleans Zephyrs, Las Vegas clinching their second consecutive Pacific Coast League Southern Division title could have been somewhat anticlimactic. In fact, by the time the 51s were a few innings into their game, the final score of the Oklahoma/El Paso matchup had already been announced. The El Paso Chihuahuas lost to the Oklahoma City Redhawks by a score of 9-5, effectively giving Vegas a lock on the title.

But the 51s were not about to rest on their laurels. Las Vegas’ team wins leader Logan Verrett took the mound, but he struggled early. With two on and two out in the first, Verrett gave up a three-run home run to Zephyrs left fielder Mark Canha putting the 51s in a 3-0 hole. Verrett went five innings giving up five runs (five earned) on five hits with six strikeouts.

The 51s came back with one run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Bobby Abreu, back with the team after being designated for assignment by the Mets earlier this month. Vegas tied the game on a two-run home run in the fourth by center fielder Cesar Puello.

After the Zephyrs scored two more runs in the fifth, the 51s came back with one run on a double by Abreu, scoring Josh Satin who had reached on a throwing error by third baseman Juan Diaz. Satin reached base all five times he batted, twice on an error, and walking three times. Zephyrs reliever Bryan Evans started the sixth by walking Kevin Plawecki, Puello and pinch hitter Cory Vaughn. With no one out, it looked like Evans may have been pitching around Vaughn to load the bases, putting a force in order at any base. Besides, the next batter was Daniel Muno who had struck out twice and grounded out in his previous at bats.

But Muno promptly hit the first pitch by new reliever Steve Ames over the wall in right center for a Grand Slam, putting the 51s ahead for good. Las Vegas continued to tack on as they sent 12 hitters to the plate in the eighth, scoring six runs off the Zephyrs’ third reliever Casey McCarthy. Puello batted twice in the inning, doubling to right to collect his third hit of the game, and then being hit by a pitch. The tally for the inning included five hits, three walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball, a hit batter, an error, and a sacrifice fly.

The offensive onslaught was complimented by four innings of scoreless relief. Erik Goeddel contributed a scoreless sixth and got the win. Miguel Socolovich pitched two consecutive 1-2-3 innings. Then Las Vegas native Chase Bradford pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the 14-5 victory.

The 51s head to the playoffs for the second year in a row. It remains to be seen which players will head to New York to join the big club when rosters expand on September 1st. Regardless, it looks like Manager Wally Backman’s club will still have enough pitching and hitting talent to go far in the post season.