Las Vegas 9 (4-8), El Paso 6 (7-5) Final/11 Box Score
- RHP Drew Gagnon (0-0, 3.38 ERA): 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 10 K
- RHP Corey Taylor (0-0, 5.40 ERA): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
- RHP Jacob Rhame (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 1 IP, 1 K
- LHP Kyle Regnault (0-1, 11.81 ERA): 0.2 IP, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
- RHP Drew Smith (W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 K
- RHP Jamie Callahan (0-1, 6.00 ERA): 1 IP, 1 R
Gagnon was impressive for Las Vegas in Monday’s afternoon game. The right-hander punched out an even 10 Chihuahuas before an Allen Craig home run chased him in the sixth. Five Vegas relievers found their way into the extra-inning affair.
Rhame was the only pitcher of the group to work a perfect outing, but the bullpen in general pitched well. Smith tallied his first Triple-A win in relief, as the recent call-up worked an inning and a third of scoreless baseball. Callahan had an unfortunate run charged to his ledger as the automatic runner placed on second base to begin the 11th inning would come across to score on a groundout.
- Dominic Smith 1B: 1-for-3, 2 BB, .297/.395/.595
- David Thompson 3B: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, K, .324/.378/.441
- Phillip Evans LF-3B: 4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, .290/.405/.387
- Luis Guillorme SS: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K, .212/.297/.333
This game was played in the Pacific Coast League so, of course, offense was not hard to come by. Las Vegas pushed across 13 hits and nine runs without a home run.
Evans had perhaps the most noteworthy day for the 51s, as he knocked four hits to lead the offense. Evans had a run scoring hit in the 51s’ four-run 11th inning, sandwiched between Johnny Monell’s go-ahead single and Guillorme’s two-run double. Dominic Smith continued his hot hitting by getting on base three times. Smith’s OPS ends the day sitting at a superb .990.
Columbia 7 (7-4), Greenville 1 (3-8) Box Score
- RHP Chris Viall (W, 1-0, 2.00 ERA): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 11 K
- RHP Darwin Ramos (0-0, 10.50 ERA): 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
- RHP Carlos Hernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
For the second consecutive start to begin his season, Chris Viall was again plagued by a high pitch count and was unable to work deep into the game. However, this time it was because he utterly dominated Greenville during his 89-pitch effort. Viall’s 11 strikeouts, along with his four walks, boosted his pitch count. The tall righty was strong in this one for the Fireflies, and if he is able to limit walks in future starts, he should be able to work deeper into games.
Columbia’s bullpen worked four scoreless frames after Viall departed. Darwin Ramos allowed five baserunners in his two innings, but managed to keep them from scoring. The contingent of Ramos and Carlos Hernandez struck out six over four innings, amassing a total of 17 strikeouts for Columbia pitching.
- Edgardo Fermin SS: 3-for-4, 2B, BB, .341/.316/.568
- Quinn Brodey CF: 1-for-4, 3B, RBI, BB, K, .294/.385/.294
- Walter Rasquin DH: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, .310/.375/.552
All but three of the Fireflies’ starting players recorded base hits in this one, as they mounted a strong and consistent offensive attack throughout the evening. Both Brodey and Jay Jabs recorded triples, and Fermin had three hits out of the leadoff spot.
The loudest swing of the night belonged to Walter Rasquin, who took a hanging curveball deep into the Greenville night in the eighth inning. The blast was Rasquin’s first home run of the season. Blake Tiberi provided a brief scare when he departed the game in the seventh inning. Thankfully, Tiberi was pulled because his contact lenses had fallen out and he was without a spare pair.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies had their game postponed and the St. Lucie Mets had a scheduled day off.
