In the top of the first inning of Thursday night’s game vs. the Reno Aces, Las Vegas left-handed starter Steven Matz gave up a lead-off double, a single, a walk, and another single. He escaped the inning only surrendering one run, thanks to center fielder Darrell Ceciliani catching a 1-out fly ball and relaying it perfectly to catcher Johnny Monell to cut down Reno third basemen Kevin Frandsen at home. And then all that was out of his system.

Matz then proceeded to string together 6 scoreless innings. He did this while allowing only two other singles and one walk. He racked up 12 strike outs, striking out the side twice. Seven of the strikeouts were swinging, and five batters were caught looking. Matz threw 101 pitches, 70 for strikes, and was consistently in the mid-90s on the radar gun. He seemed to be getting stronger as he went deeper into the game. He improved his record to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 1.84.

In the meantime, the 51s offense struggled to make up the 1 run deficit. Vegas had a 1-out base hit in each of the first four innings. Doubles by third baseman Daniel Muno, left fielder Brandon Allen and shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, and a single by first baseman Brooks Conrad all came to nothing. Cecilliani singled to lead off the 5th, but then got doubled off first when he failed to return to the base after a foul out by Matz.

Reno starter Robbie Ray kept the 51s scoreless until the bottom of the 6th inning when he walked Muno. After Matt Reynolds struck out, Monell singled to left. That was it for Ray, who was replaced by Derek Eitel. But the 51s rally continued with a double by Conrad scoring Muno, an intentional walk to Allen and a run-scoring single by Travis Taijeron. The rally was cut a bit short when Conrad was thrown out at home trying to score on the same hit. Ceciliani struck out to end the inning.

Now with a one run lead, Matz had all he needed and finished strong, striking out the side in order in the 7th. In the bottom of the inning, the 51s broke out for three more runs when pinch hitter Cory Vaughn singled and stole second. He moved to third on a groundout by Tovar. Muno drew his second consecutive walk. After a strikeout of Reynolds, Monell blasted a 3 run homer over the wall in right center. Las Vegas scored two more in the bottom of the 8th on a single by Vaughn, a triple by Tovar and a double by Muno.

Zack Thornton came on to pitch the 8th, giving up one run on two hits. Cody Satterwhite handled the 9th, sandwiching a single between two strikeouts and getting the final batter to line out to first base.

Dilson Herrera started the game at second base, but was removed after his first at bat because he was recalled by the Mets.