Las Vegas welcomed the Sacramento River Cats to Cashman Field on Saturday as baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day. Select 51s players wore the number 42 to honor the legendary Robinson.
Vegas sent right-hander Wilfredo Boscan to the mound. The 51s staked him to a two-run lead in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Gavin Cecchini lead off with a single to the shortstop. With left-fielder Matt Reynolds at the plate, Cecchini stole second. Reynolds then rapped a single to left, which eluded River Cats left-fielder Austin Slater, driving in Cecchini. Reynolds ended up at third and was able to come home on a single to center by shortstop Amed Rosario.
In the bottom of the third Vegas added on when Reynolds collected his second single. After Rosario was hit by a pitch, both runners moved up on a ground ball by T.J. Rivera who reached safely after an error by the Sacramento third baseman. With the bases now loaded, catcher Kevin Plawecki hit a long sacrifice fly to right scoring Reynolds. Right-fielder Travis Taijeron‘s two-out single plated Rosario to increase the 51s lead to 4-0.
Boscan finished his outing after pitching four scoreless innings, scattering five hits and two walks, striking out five. Kevin McGowan took over to start the fifth and posted another two scoreless. He gave up two hits and struck out three. Ben Rowen followed with a scoreless inning of his own, a small relief after his three previous rough outings this season.
Cory Burns started the eighth and needed a one-out assist from Paul Sewald to keep the game scoreless. Sewald did give up one run in the ninth, but for the second straight night, struck out the final batter to earn his second save on the year.
Top Performers:
Boscan, McGowan, Rowan, Burns and Sewald combined for 8 1/3 scoreless before the River Cats managed to plate a run in the ninth. McGowan got the win. Reynolds was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Rosario was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Taijeron had two hits and an RBI and Plawecki had a sac fly.
