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Vegas Splits Twin Bill With Albuquerque, Bowman Earns First Victory

By Jennifer Nieves

July 12, 2014 No comments

Matthew Bowman

Las Vegas split a twin bill with the Albuquerque Isotopes Friday at Cashman Field. The 51s won the first game 8-1 on the strength of a strong pitching performance by Matthew Bowman, who earned his first win of the season since coming up from Binghamton. 

After giving up a run in the first, Bowman was in control scattering seven hits over six innings, walking two and striking out three. Zack Thornton threw a scoreless 7th on two strike outs and a ground out to end the game.

Bowman was backed by plenty of offense as the 51s came back with two in the 1st and kept adding on. Matt den Dekker had three hits including a double in the first inning. After a walk to Matt Reynolds, den Dekker scored on two wild pitches by Albuquerque starter Jeff Bennett. Wilmer Flores reached on a fielder’s choice, and after a single by Allan Dykstra, Flores was plated by Andrew Brown’s ground out.

Kevin Plawecki and Flores each contributed solo homers in the 2nd and 3rd respectively, and Dykstra had three RBI’s on a bases-clearing three run triple in the 4th; all off of Bennett. The 4th inning rally was started with three consecutive two out singles by Bowman, den Dekker and Reynolds, whose single drove in Bowman. Flores walked to load the bases, before Dykstra chased them all home with his triple to the gap in right center field.

Unfortunately, the Isotopes spoiled 51s starter, Greg Peavey’s 26th birthday, beating him in the night cap by a score of 5-2. Peavey pitched well early as he gave up only one hit and one run through four innings.  The lone run was a home run by Brock Peterson in the second. Peavey also struck out the side in the third, but in the 5th, he gave up two runs by way of, three singles, hitting a batter and walking one. A third run was charged to Peavey in the inning when Miguel Socolovich allowed a single after coming on in relief with two outs.

The 51s offense stalled after they scored single runs in each of the first two innings. Josh Satin went 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI, and Daniel Muno drove in the second run with a Sac Fly. But it wasn’t enough to pick up Peavey, who tossed 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on four hits, while striking out five. Chase Bradford gave up the fifth run, on a home run by former Met Mike Baxter in the 6th. Erik Goeddel kept the 51s close, striking out the side in the 7th.

Another former Met, Robert Carson, logged the win for the Isotopes after coming on in relief of starter Carlos Frias in the 5th.

The 51s will play the third game in this two day series against the Isotopes on Saturday at 7:05.

Giancarlo Alvarado (3-4, 7.86) will start for the 51s against right-hander Drew Carpenter (2-0, 6.08 ERA).

(Photo: Binghamton Mets)

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