Las Vegas (9-10) bats woke up in the last two games against Albuquerque, and after an off day on Wednesday, they picked right back up where they left off in the first game of a four game series against the Tacoma Rainiers. Led by Centerfielder Brandon Nimmo, Vegas rapped out 10 hits and scored 8 runs in the first three innings of a rain-shortened game against Tacoma Thursday night.
Lefty Sean Gilmartin took the mound for the 51s and gave up 1 run on only 2 hits in 5 innings of work, striking out 5. But his work was overshadowed by his team’s offense.
Nimmo led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. Third baseman Matt Reynolds followed with a single to right. After a strikeout of Roger Bernadina, designated hitter Travis Taijeron cashed in both runners with a double down the line in right. In the second inning, after left fielder Ty Kelly reached on an error, Nimmo came up again, singling to center. Reynold’s collected his second hit as well, scooting a ball past second baseman Shawn O’Malley who stumbled. Kelly and Nimmo both scored, the latter when the throw home was dropped by Rainiers catcher Mike Zunino.
Tacoma threatened in the top of the third when Gilmartin issued a walk to left fielder Daniel Robertson, between two strikeouts, and he stole second. A single to right by Chris Taylor would have scored Robertson if not for the on-the-money throw home by Bernadina which reached catcher Johnny Monell in plenty of time to make the out.
In the bottom of the third second baseman T.J. Rivera singled to center. Shortstop Gavin Cecchini singled to left and then Rivera scored when first baseman Marc Krauss singled to center. After a walk to Kelly, Nimmo came up and collected his third hit of the night, a bases-clearing double to right scoring all three runners stretching the Las Vegas lead to 8-0.
All the damage came off Tacoma’s starter, Las Vegas native Donn Roach. After being knocked out by Nimmo’s double, Roach gave way to new pitcher Jordan Pries who retired the next two batters, but by now the skies had opened up.
In the top of the fifth Gilmartin gave up a fly ball to right fielder Mike Baxter which eluded Kelly in left field and went for a double. Baxter tagged up and advanced on a fly to right, and then scored on a ground ball for Tacoma’s only run. After the third out, the umpires ordered play stopped and the mound and home plate were covered. Heavy rain continued for perhaps another half hour before finally letting up. Cashman Field does not have a full infield tarp. The grounds crew tried to dry the infield, but the umpires inspected it along with 51s manager Wally Backman and determined the grounds were too wet to play on. The game was called, but it was official, and good enough for a 51s 8-1 victory.
Top Performers:
Brandon Nimmo was 3-3 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Matt Reynolds was 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Travis Taijeron was 1-2 with a 2-RBI double. Sean Gilmartin went 5 innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out 5 to earn the win. Gilmartin is now 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA and has struck out 21 batters over his last three starts spanning 18 innings.
Las Vegas continues the series with Tacoma with game two on Friday at 10:05 pm ET. Rafael Montero will make his second start since returning from the Mets.
(photos by Jennifer Nieves)
