On the surface, it seems 51s manager Jerry Royster should be satisfied. His team is 11 games over .500 and en route to erasing the miserable memories of last year.

Royster thought he had to crack the whip, however, and in a 30-minute meeting after Monday's victory he ripped his players for sloppy work habits.

"I thought, as a team, we're doing a lot of things carelessly, or we weren't going about our business the correct way," he said. "These guys think just because they're winning, it's OK, and it's not.

"It's not OK to just win. If you're not getting better, then we're wasting time."

Royster said he got his message across, and the results were apparent Tuesday night as Las Vegas rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the Nashville Sounds 6-5 at Cashman Field.

The 51s' Chris Truby had three RBIs, one on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth inning that produced the winning run.

Giovanni Carrara pitched 1 2/3 innings to get the win, and Justin Reid got one out to earn his second save.

The 51s (25-14) own the second-best record in the Pacific Coast League, on the heels of last year's league-worst 57-86 finish.

Royster was frequently critical of last year's team, but he also knew the roster was depleted and the talent level was limited.

"If this team executes, we'll win. Nobody is going to beat us, not with the pitching we have," he said. "But if we win this league and these guys don't get better, I promise I will not be happy. I won't be celebrating."

Royster said he has been frustrated that his pitchers are wasting pitches and "letting inferior hitters take them to deep counts" and he asked every player to pay more attention to details.

"The meeting was about preparation. It's not that they're playing around; it's they're not doing things to get better," Royster said.

"I'm coaching third base and I watch one guy spend the whole time in the dugout talking to someone with his back to the game. They think they're getting away with stuff. Now they're aware of that, and they're not going to do it again."

He did praise the work of several players -- including second baseman Sergio Garcia, outfielder/first baseman Joel Guzman, shortstop Wilson Valdez and pitchers Harold Eckert and Eric Stults -- but is demanding more of others.

"They think it's Double A or A ball, and it's not. This is preparation for the major leagues. This is the last stop," Royster said.

"I said I've never seen a team win so many games and play it so bad. Maybe I'm a little hard, but they all understood what I was saying. If I can get them to do these things, we're going to win. I guarantee it."

• NOTES -- James Loney extended his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Royster said two injured Dodgers, closer Eric Gagne and shortstop Cesar Izturis, could be on rehabilitation assignments with the 51s when the team returns home May 26.