Colorado Springs 13, Las Vegas 12

If you aren’t watching 51s baseball, you’re missing out. I need to preface this by saying that. These guys have been playing some damn good baseball and the PCL curve and Wally Backman have both played their parts in this movement. The 51s currently lead their division and should be able to make the playoffs if they can grab a few more wins.

Anyway, they were against the wall last night, running into the seventh inning down 6 – 1. They scored three runs, only to see Colorado Springs respond with three of their own. So they threw a five spot on the board to pull within one run, 9-8. Colorado Springs would then add four more runs, making the score 13-8 in their favor — and even three runs in the ninth from the 51s couldn’t pull the 51s close enough to tie or win the game.

That five-run eighth inning was the peak of their offense, highlighted by a Kirk Nieuwenhuis single that plated two and a Mike Baxter three-run blast.

All 51s pitchers struggled and allowed at least three earned runs.

Key Stats

Ruben Tejada: 3-for-5, 1 BB, 2 R

Mike Baxter: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI, 1 R

Brandon Hicks: 4-for-5, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Giancarlo Alvarado: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 6 R, 4 ER, 8 K

Jack Leathersich: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 2 K

D.J. Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 K