The Las Vegas 51s (15-19) opened their series with the Omaha Storm Chasers Thursday night at Cashman Field. They sent right-hander Tyler Pill to the mound. Pill had given up only one earned run over his last four starts at AAA.
It seemed Omaha’s approach to Pill was playing small ball. Omaha bunted four times in the game to keep the 51s defense on their toes. Walks hurt Pill in the third as he issued one to each of the first two batters. After a sac bunt, a soft single dropped in to center scoring two runs. With a runner on in the fourth, first baseman Dominic Smith threw wide to second trying to cut down the lead runner, but everyone was safe. After another bunt, a double to right plated two more. Pill then logged three scoreless to finish his outing after seven innings. His final line was four runs, three earned, on six hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Pill’s ERA still only rose to 1.06 for his work so far in AAA.
The Vegas offense struggled against Omaha pitcher righty Josh Staumont who pitched five scoreless innings and struck out ten. He also walked five, but the 51s could not capitalize, stranding two runners in each of the first three innings. They left the bases loaded in the fourth.
Lefty David Roseboom replaced Pill in the eighth and worked out of trouble. He gave up two singles to start the inning, and another bunt moved them to second and third. He issued an intentional walk to the next batter and was able to coax a double play to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the eighth, Vegas left fielder Desmond Jennings homered to left with one out to plate the 51s only run of the night. Designated hitter Victor Cruzado followed Jennings’ homer with a triple, but was stranded. Reliever Erik Goeddel gave back the one run in the top of the ninth, allowing a home run by Omaha second baseman Raul Mondesi who was three for four on the night. The Storm Chasers reliever Malcom Culver struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game.
Las Vegas struck out a total of 14 times on the night, leaving 12 runners on base. The series with Omaha continues Friday as the 51s send former Seattle Mariner righty Blake Beavan to the mound.
I’m out of town for business but efreaking gads.14k’s with an o’fer wrisp?
Great article! Also whats your view on Tyler Pill? Is he someone who could start a couple of Games for the big league club given everyone is getting hurt? FYI, I sprained my index finger typing this…damn this mets curse!
Oh no! The curse is getting everyone! As for Pill, he’s been bouncing between AA and AAA for the last 3+ seasons, so there must be some reason they keep having him start back in AA. But he might be coming into his own this season. Not being a hard thrower has taught him to be crafty. I think he might have been the one to replace Harvey instead of Wilk if he hadn’t just pitched 8 innings 36 hours earlier. He can definitely give you some innings. He could be next up if, God forbid, something else happens.
Yep, it was totally frustrating to watch!