Las Vegas 51s split doubleheader in Fresno

The two games in Las Vegas and Fresno’s doubleheader could not have been more different. An offensive muscle-off in Game 1 turned into a low-scoring affair in Game 2 as the squads split the twin bill Thursday night at Chukchansi Park.

Game 1

When it’s a minor league doubleheader and there are only seven innings, there isn’t a whole lot of margin for error. Las Vegas spotted Fresno two runs in the bottom of the first, but tied it in the second and took the lead for good in the third in an eventual 6-5 victory.

“We scored those six runs early,” 51s manager Wally Backman said. “We were fortunate to be able to win that 6-5.”

After the Grizzlies scored twice in the bottom of the first, T.J. Rivera and Johnny Monell answered by leading off the second with back-to-back home runs. Las Vegas added four more in the third to take a 6-2 victory.

Fresno did not just roll over and prepare for the nightcap. Two runs in the third and one in the fourth set up a dramatic finish. In the sixth and penultimate inning, the Grizzlies loaded the bases off Las Vegas reliever Josh Edgin.

Backman turned to his closer for a five-out save, calling on righty Paul Sewald in a 6-5 ballgame. He proceeded to strike out the two hitters he faced in the sixth before tossing a scoreless ninth for his 12 save of the season.

“Sewald nailed everybody out,” Backman said. “He did a very nice job. He was a key for us winning that game.”

Game 2

It was clear early on that Game 2 would get decided by whoever blinked first and it was almost Brad Peacock. The Fresno righty pitched himself in and out out trouble in the sixth inning but took his team back to the dugout with no damage done.

The staring match ended as Las Vegas starter Duane Below broke his glance with Peacock and snapped his head to watch Jon Kemmer’s ninth home run of the season sail over the right-field wall to score two. Fresno won Game 2 by a score of 2-1.

“Below made one bad pitch there in the sixth inning for a two-run homer,” Backman said. “Left the ball over the plate.”

Below was good, giving up just the two runs over six innings but Peacock was better, going six and not allowing any. Peacock gave up just four hits and the 51s could not score until he left the game in the seventh.

But they almost did in the sixth. Ty Kelly and Roger Bernadina singled to lead off the inning and Las Vegas was in business. Eric Campbell but a slight damper on things with his flyout to right field and Johnny Monell doused the flame with his double play to end the inning.

Two batters later, Fresno had the lead.

“We had our chance,” Backman said. “We tried to rally in the seventh. We gave ourselves a chance.”

The 51s got one back on T.J. Rivera’s RBI single but two strikeouts and a groundout ended any hope at a comeback.

It was the second doubleheader of the season for the 51s. They were swept at home against Albuquerque on July 8 and have another next Thursday, again against Fresno.

Justin Emerson can be reached at jemerson@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @J15Emerson