Kevin Plawecki, Johnny Monell homer in 51s’ rout of Salt Lake
The benefit of playing with the designated hitter is that the 51s can get two slugging catchers into the lineup at the same time.
Catcher Kevin Plawecki and designated hitter Johnny Monell each homered and combined for eight RBIs to back another solid outing by Darin Gorski as Las Vegas routed the Salt Lake Bees 10-4 at Cashman Field on Tuesday night.
“If they give the offense a chance, this offense, you’re not going to hold it down for very long,” 51s manager Wally Backman said. “There’s guys on the bench that are supposed to be playing every day, but not unless we can play 11 or 12 guys on the field.”
Every hitter in the starting lineup ended the game with at least a .289 average, led by shortstop Gavin Cecchini’s .335. He was fifth in the league in hitting entering play Tuesday.
It started early. Cecchini, hitting second, knocked in Roger Bernadina after he doubled. In the second inning, the 51s (45-39) added two more on Plawecki’s second homer of the season.
“I’m definitely not a home run hitter, but it’s nice to run into one every once in a while,” Plawecki said. “I was just looking for a pitch to hit and brought my hands in and was able to hit it over the fence.”
After a shaky first outing with the 51s, Gorski has put together two quality outings in Triple A, following up seven innings in Tacoma last week with seven Tuesday, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out three and walking four.
“He got ahead for a first-pitch strike, and whenever you can get ahead like that, it makes the game a lot easier,” Plawecki said.
Gorski (2-1) never had to pitch from behind, and after his first three outs, he didn’t even have to pitch in a tie. The 51s led 3-0 before Salt Lake scored in the third.
With a 3-2 lead, Las Vegas gave Gorski some cushion, scoring four runs in the third, three on Monell’s team-leading 14th home run.
“With our offense, the way these guys are swinging the bat, it’s really easy to go out and pitch,” Gorski said. “I expect it out of these guys anymore.”
Monell went 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs and five RBIs, and Plawecki was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Gorski’s line had some symmetry to it, as the first and last batter he faced were retired the same way: a nine-pitch strikeout.
First was Salt Lake leadoff hitter Sherman Johnson, who battled to a 3-2 count before being frozen on a changeup for a called strike three. Gorski’s outing ended on a swinging breaking ball to Geovany Soto.
The two batters accounted for 18 of his 101 pitches.
“I would have preferred they be three-pitch strikeouts, but that’s fine,” Gorski said with a laugh.
Up next
Who: Salt Lake Bees at Las
When: 7:05 p.m. today
Where: Cashman Field
Starters: Nate Smith
Next five
Thursday: Albuquerque at Las Vegas,
Friday: Albuquerque at Las Vegas, doubleheader, 5
Saturday: Albuquerque at Las Vegas, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Off
Monday: Triple-A Home Run Derby
Update
• Outfielder Travis Taijeron was named to the Triple-A Home Run Derby on Tuesday. He has 13 homers this season.
• The New York Mets optioned infielder Matt Reynolds to Las Vegas to make room for Jose Reyes. Reynolds has hit .233 in 27 games in the majors this season.
Justin Emerson can be reached at jemerson@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @J15Emerson
