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Gabriel Ynoa pitches eight strong innings in 51s’ win over El Paso

Gabriel Ynoa was efficient in his last start, working seven-plus innings and giving up one run.

But Thursday night, the 51s starter was even more economical, going eight innings and needing only 92 pitches to do so in a 7-2 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas at Cashman Field.

“He got outs when he needed outs. He got ground balls when he needed ground balls,” manager Wally Backman said. “For a 22-year-old kid, he really knows how to pitch.”

 

The win, which marked his sixth straight quality start, moved Ynoa to 4-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.77, second in the Pacific Coast League behind Los Angeles Dodgers uber prospect Julio Urias of Oklahoma City.

Backman said he thought Ynoa was throwing a bit harder in Thursday’s victory than in some of his past starts.

“He’s been really throwing that two-seamer that’s 88-90 or whatever, but he threw some pitches tonight 93, 94,” Backman said. “He’s really worked on that two-seamer, and I think he mixed it up a little bit tonight.”

It was Ynoa’s second victory against El Paso in three games. In his last start against the Chihuahuas, he went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs.

Ynoa said through Yadalla Mufdi that the game plan was the same but he was more aggressive against the Chihuahuas this time around.

“(I) didn’t get let down when (I) gave up a hit or if there was an error,” Ynoa said. “(I) just felt like (I) was in control.”

Ynoa often had to pitch with a runner on base, giving up nine hits, but after allowing a run in the first inning, El Paso couldn’t scrape together another off him, partially because of Las Vegas’ defense.

In the first, Ty Kelly threw out James Loney at home on a strong throw from left, and in the second, the 51s made three nice plays to aid Ynoa.

“The most important thing is the first-pitch strike and then to keep pounding the zone to make sure they put the ball in play and let the infielders make those plays,” Ynoa said.

With Ynoa’s pitch count in check, Backman said he was going to let him go out for the ninth before the 51s got a couple of runners on in the eighth and he had a chance to hit for Ynoa.

Had he been throwing a shutout, Backman said he would have sent Ynoa back out for a chance at a complete game, but with Las Vegas taking a 7-1 lead into the ninth and Ynoa battling a little soreness in his left side, there was no need.

Ynoa said the soreness was nothing serious, and it certainly didn’t seem to affect his performance.

The 51s’ offense staked him to a lead in the fourth after a Nevin Ashley solo home run in the third tied the game.

They also got two runs in both the sixth and eighth, scoring at least six runs for the second time in three games against El Paso.

Ashley and Matt Reynolds both drove in two runs, Roger Bernadina added three hits, and Ashley and Travis Taijeron each had two hits.

And one day after the 51s made a couple of mistakes in a loss, they looked much better, starting and ending with their starter.

“I think the whole game was based on what Ynoa did tonight,” Backman said.

Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand

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