The Las Vegas 51s started an eight-game home stand with the first game of four against new Dodgers affiliate Oklahoma City Thursday night. Steven Matz took the mound and got off to a rough start as he gave up a two-out two-run home run to Dodgers center fielder Chris Heisey followed by a solo shot to first baseman O’Koyea Dickson.

His teammates picked Matz up right away in the bottom of the first. After third baseman Daniel Muno drew a walk, and shortstop Matt Reynolds singled, first baseman Brooks Conrad chased them home with a three-run homer to right center field to tie the game at 3-3.

The 51s continued to add on, scoring two in the second on a two-run home run by Muno. In the fourth center fielder Cory Vaughn tripled to lead off and scored on a single by catcher Dan Rohlfing. Matz contributed a single of his own with one out. Rohlfing and Matz both scored when an attempted sacrifice bunt by Muno was mishandled and thrown away by the Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes.

In the meantime, Matz settled down to throw three scoreless innings before surrendering two more runs in the fifth. He was lifted with one out in the seventh. His final line was 6 and a third, six runs, four earned on 8 hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.  Aside from the two home runs, several other balls were hit hard, and he allowed baserunners in all but one of the innings he pitched.

Zack Thornton came on in relief in the seventh allowing one inherited runner to score.

Vegas sent 8 men to the plate in the bottom of the seventh to pad their lead, highlighted by a leadoff triple by Muno.

Scott Rice and Cody Satterwhite pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth respectively to close out the win. Matz improved his record to 5-2, but his ERA rose to 2.24.