Las Vegas returned home Saturday night after playing 12 of their last 16 games on the road since the All-Star Break. Having lost two straight 4-game series in Reno and Sacramento, the 51s began a short home stand against the Tacoma Rainiers hoping for a change of fortunes.
Vegas sent right hander Tim Stauffer to the mound to make his first start since joining the 51s. After giving up back to back one out singles, a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. Then Tacoma designated hitter Jabari Blash hit a ball back to Stauffer which was deflected off his foot into foul territory allowing a run to score. Then with left fielder Patrick Kivlehan striking out swinging, catcher Dan Rohlfing threw down to second in an attempt to catch Blash stealing. The throw went through into centerfield, and in the process, the runner on third, right fielder Stefen Romero broke for home and slid in safely as Tacoma was given credit for a double steal. Stauffer coaxed a fly ball to shallow left to end the inning. But the Rainiers had taken a 2-0 lead.
The offense got right to work to make up the early deficit. Second baseman Dilson Herrera led off with a single to left. Centerfielder Darrell Ceciliani followed with a single to right. Then DH Matt Reynolds came up and drove a line drive off the wall in right field for an RBI double. With one out, Tacoma starting pitcher Roenis Elias was charged with a balk which allowed Ceciliani to score. Left fielder Jayce Boyd reached on a fielder’s choice, a grounder to second which they opted to go home with, not in time to get Reynolds who scored from third. Right fielder Travis Taijeron then walked and was driven home by shortstop Wilfredo Tovar‘s single up the middle. Third baseman Daniel Muno followed with a single to load the bases. After striking out Rohlfing, a frustrated Elias was tossed by the first base umpire, seemingly for continuing to carp about the balk. Logan Kensing was tasked to replace him and faced Herrera who came up for the second time in the inning and doubled off the wall in right to drive in Taijeron and and Tovar. The 51s lead was extended to 6-2 after one.
Stauffer gave up only one more run over the next four and a third to earn the win. Cody Satterwhite, Chase Bradford, Zack Thornton and Vic Black combined to pitch the remaining three and two thirds to close out the victory.
The 51s tacked on two more runs in the seventh on RBI doubles by Zach Lutz and Tovar. Reynolds went 4-5 on the night with two doubles, one RBI, one stolen base, and two runs scored. Herrera was 3-5 with two RBI and a run scored, and Lutz and Tovar had two hits each driving in one and two respectively.
The win allowed Las Vegas to pick up a game on second place El Paso who had closed to within 3.5 games of the first place 51s.
Matt Bowman will get the start on Sunday night against Tacoma as the 51s continue their brief four-game home stand.
(All photos by Jessica Santana)