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Vegas Offense Wakes Up; 51s Halt 10 Game Skid against El Paso

By Jennifer Nieves

June 7, 2015 No comments

Pill

The Las Vegas 51s returned home Saturday night after going winless on their road trip to Nashville and Memphis, and losing 10 straight dating back to May 27th. They hosted the El Paso Chihuahuas for the first of a four game series.

The Vegas offense got off to a good start when second baseman Wilfredo Tovar led off the bottom of the first with a home run to left center, staking right-hander Tyler Pill to an early  lead. But in the top of the second, the Chihuahuas came back to tie when after a double and a wild pitch, El Paso catcher Rocky Gale singled to drive in second baseman Casey McElroy. The 51s retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Pill led off with a single. With one out, shortstop Matt Reynolds doubled to right moving Pill to third. They both scored on the double by catcher Johnny Monell to deep center field.

After contributing to the two-run inning and taking a 3-1 lead into the sixth, Pill began by walking the first two batters.  A visit to the mound by pitching coach Frank Viola seemed to help, because Pill was able to escape without any damage by coaxing a ground out to first, tallying a strike out and getting a ground out to second. In all, Pill went six innings, giving up one run on only four hits, striking out four. He earned his second win of the season, the first in his last five starts.

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Recently promoted Jayce Boyd came up to pinch hit for Pill in the bottom of the sixth. It was his first at bat at Cashman Field, and he delivered a line drive single to right, kicking off a two-out rally. Tovar and Reynolds followed by drawing walks to load the bases. Boyd then scored when Monell was hit by a pitch. Bases still loaded, first baseman Brooks Conrad drew another walk, driving home Tovar.

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After working the count full, Alex Castellanos hit a grand slam to left, bringing in four. Left fielder Brandon Allen then singled as the 51s batted around, but right fielder Travis Taijeron struck out to end the inning. However, Vegas had broken the game open with a six run inning, scoring more runs than they had in all but one game over their 10 game losing streak.

Zack Thornton came on to pitch the seventh, giving up two runs on three hits in the inning. The inning could have gone differently. After a one-out walk to catcher Robert Kral, Thornton got a slow ground ball to second from Mike McCoy.  Tovar fielded it, but the runner managed to zig zag out of his reach and Tovar had to chase the runner to slap a tag on him. Tovar then made a heads up toss to first, but McCoy was called safe in a close play. Thornton then surrendered three consecutive singles and a walk, allowing the two runs. He finally got a fly ball to left to end the inning.

John Church allowed another run in the eighth, but Vic Black, making his second rehab appearance with Las Vegas, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the 9-4 win.

The series will  continue on Sunday afternoon with Matthew Bowman getting the start.

(All photos by Cirilo Maldonado)