Las Vegas (11-10) went into Saturday’s game against Tacoma with a modest four game winning streak, and a whole lot of runs scored over that time. Right-hander Seth Lugo took the mound for the first time since his short stint on the disabled list, most likely hoping for some of that run support.

The 51s obliged early, scoring two runs in each of the second and third innings. In the second first baseman Marc Krauss drew a one out walk. With twp out, Ty Kelly‘s infield single moved him up and center fielder Brandon Nimmo‘s double to right chased both of them home. Nimmo attempted to get to third on the throw, but was cut down to end the inning.

That was a good start and Lugo did his part with three scoreless innings. His team would pad their lead with two more in the bottom of the third. Matt Reynolds led off with a walk. Left fielder Roger Bernadina followed with a single moving Reynolds to third. Right fielder Travis Taijeron drove Reynolds in with a single to right.  Catcher Johnny Monell also singled to right, driving in Bernadina. Taijeron attempted to advance to third, but was thrown out by Tacoma’s right fielder Daniel Robertson. Designated hitter T.J. Rivera followed with another single, but the next two batters were retired to end the inning.

Having two runners thrown out at third in the previous innings turned out to be important as Lugo struggled a bit in the fourth. After a walk and two straight singles, Tacoma’s left fielder Mike Baxter drove in one run on a ground out and catcher Rob Brantly drove in another on a sacrifice fly. Both runs scoring on outs though helped Lugo limit any further damage in the inning as he struck out third baseman Ed Lucas.

In the fifth, Robertson reached on a bunt single. Then second baseman Tyler Smith followed with another bunt, this time a sacrifice. Center fielder Boog Powell doubled in Robertson and then shortstop Chris Taylor doubled in Powell to tie the game. Lugo was able to stave off further trouble by getting the next two hitters to complete his outing. He went five innings, giving up four runs (four earned), on five hits. He walked two and struck out six, collecting his second win.

In the bottom of the inning, Vegas looked to pick up their starter, and came through. With one out, Taijeron walked and moved to third on a single by Monell. Rivera drove in the go-ahead run on a ground out. Then Krauss came up and homered, sending a big arching ball over the fence in right driving in Rivera.

Now with a three run lead, the game was turned over to the bullpen. Dario Alvarez was first out of the pen and retired the two batters he faced. Jeff Walters was summoned to get the third out of the inning, and after walking his first batter, he got a strikeout to close the sixth. Walters pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. Josh Smoker did the same in the eighth. Paul Sewald came on in the ninth and with one out, Robertson collected his second bunt single of the night. Another single followed, but Sewald got the final batter to fly out to left, earning his second save of the year. The win was the fifth straight for Las Vegas.

Top Performers:

Nimmo was 2 for 4 with two RBI and is 6 for 10 with five runs batted during his last three games. Monell was also 2 for 4, driving in one. Krauss was 2 for 3 with a home run, driving in two and scoring two. Alvarez, Walters, Smoker and Sewald combined for four scoreless innings to preserve the win for Lugo.

The 51s will go for the sweep of Tacoma on Sunday afternoon at 3:05 pm ET, sending lefty Duane Below to the mound.

(photos by Jennifer Nieves)