51s shut out, eliminated from playoff contention
When the season started, Wally Backman figured his team would be playing past Sept. 5.
But with a 5-0 loss Wednesday to El Paso at Southwest University Park, Backman was left watching the Chihuahuas celebrate as they clinched the division.
“It’s not the way I thought the season was going to be. If I graded it out, the offense did a great job, the starters were below average and the bullpen was below average,” Backman said. “Basically I’m disappointed in our pitching.”
Wednesday, the offense didn’t manage to do anything, either.
The start of the game looked promising for the 51s (66-73), who loaded the bases in the first inning.
But they never did anything with that situation as Travis Taijeron struck out looking to end the frame.
They loaded the bases once more in the eighth but Taijeron was retired again, this time grounding out, to end the threat.
All told, the 51s left 10 runners on base. Centerfielder Brandon Nimmo collected two hits, raising his Pacific Coast League-leading batting average to .352, but Carlos Pimentel and a collection of Chihuahua relievers kept one of the best offenses in the league mostly silent throughout.
Josh Zeid got the start for the 51s and was tagged for four runs in his 5 1/3-inning outing.
Zeid gave up a pair of home runs — first to Auston Bousfield in the second and then to Hunter Renfroe an inning later.
Chase Huchingson came on in relief and gave up an inherited run on a wild pitch before giving up a run of his own as part of El Paso’s two-run sixth.
“It’s the same old … story every day,” Backman said. “It’s about pitching and the pitching hasn’t been good enough to win games.”
The 51s now have five games left in the season — one remaining with El Paso and four in Salt Lake — and four players — Michael Conforto, Ty Kelly, Kevin Plawecki and Gabriel Ynoa — have already left the team as the first wave of September call-ups.
And so with the remaining group of players, the challenge now becomes motivating a group of guys — some who are looking toward the offseason and some who are looking toward a call-up — through the end of the season on Monday.
“It’s difficult but I had a meeting about that last night when I sent those guys (up),” Backman said. “I said that they need to stay focused and they need to try to play to win every game. That’s been addressed. Tonight we just got beat. That’s the bottom line.”
Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand
Up next
Who: Las Vegas 51s at El Paso Chihuahuas
When: 6:05 p.m. Thursday
Where: Southwest University Park, El Paso, Texas
Starters: Tyler Herron (0-0, 0.00 ERA), 51s, vs. Dinelson Lamet (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
Upcoming
Friday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 5:35 p.m.
Saturday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 6:05 p.m.
Monday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 12:05 p.m.
Update
The New York Mets traded 51s catcher Nevin Ashley to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday for cash. Ashley was hitting .240with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 63 games for Las Vegas this season.
Michael Conforto, Kevin Plawecki, Ty Kelly and Gabriel Ynoa have left the 51s and will comprise the first wave of Mets’ September call-ups. There will be a second round of call-ups once the Triple-A season ends Monday.
