Las Vegas 10, Sacramento 4
The Las Vegas 51s swept a doubleheader Monday against visiting Sacramento, winning a pair of seven-inning games at Cashman Field — 8-3 in the first game and 10-4 in the nightcap.
In the first game, the 51s scored five times in the second inning, including a three-run triple from outfielder Matt den Dekker. Right-hander Matt Fox surrendered one run in five innings to earn the win.
In the second game, Jordany Valdespin clubbed a three-run home run in the third, and the 51s scored in five of six innings. Jamie Hoffmann added a 3-for-4 performance with two runs and two RBIs, and Wilmer Flores went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Earlier in the day, Valdespin was named the Pacific Coast League’s Player of the Week for last week. He batted .550 with 10 RBIs in six games, scoring seven runs and totaling 19 bases. Since being demoted to Triple-A three weeks ago, Valdespin is hitting .471.
The first-place 51s (60-48) have won 11 of their last 13 games, growing their lead in the Pacific Southern Division to 2.5 games against Tucson. They are four games ahead of Sacramento.
Interesting turn of events in Game Two of this series, where Jordany Valdespin was drilled late game after homering and completely tearing it up this series. The assumption here is that Wally Backman asked Ar-Rod to hit a batsman in retaliation — and perhaps as a show of disagreement with Collins earlier in the year.
Las Vegas at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday opens a series at Nashville.
Key Stats
Jordany Valdespin: 2-for-7, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 HBP
Matt den Dekker: 4-for-6, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 3 R
Matt Fox: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 ER, 3 K
D.J. Mitchell: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 ER, 4 K
Wilmer Flores: 3-for-7, 4 RBI, 1 R
Jamie Hoffmann: 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
(Partial Team Report)
From Metsblog (Minors area):
Besides the offensive explosion for the 51s, the most exciting part of this game occurred in the top of the 7th inning when both benches cleared after 51s reliever Armando Rodriguez hit Grant Green with a pitch. That HBP came on the heels of Jordany Valdespin, who had been tearing up Sacramento pitching, being hit the previous inning. Although no punches were thrown, there was pushing and shoving and several players were ejected, including Valdespin and Rodriguez as well as Manager Wally Backman.
After collecting a single in four trips to the plate in Game 1 of the double-dip, Jordany Valdespin smashed a 3-run homer (3) in the 3rd inning of Game 2, extending his hitting streak to five games. In 13 AAA contests ‘Spin has nine extra base hits (4 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR) and 24 runs batted in. He came into action Monday with an insane 1.308 OPS.
At least Jordany now has teammates who will have his back.
Wally knows how baseball IS played…
And a MANAGER that has his back too!
Id love Wally as our manager unfortunately i dont think this terrible Front Office or Owners would want such an outspoken guy.
In the end I think Backman replaces Davey Johnson in Washington and that move haunts us for years.