51s’ Inglett in enemy territory

When 51s left fielder Joe Inglett attended UNR, the Reno-Las Vegas rivalry was intense.

"We didn't like each other at all," Inglett said Wednesday at Cashman Field before the first meeting in Las Vegas between the 51s and Reno Aces.

A former All-American who hit .385 in four seasons with the Wolf Pack, Inglett said the rivalry is what lured him to the Northern Nevada school in the first place.

"Watching a UNR-UNLV football game on my recruiting trip, I can't really explain what happened, but that made me sign there, just because of that rivalry," said Inglett, a native of Sacramento, Calif.

At this point, there is no rivalry between the Aces, who are in their first season, and the 51s.

"If we were both battling for first place right now, the rivalry could end up happening," Inglett said. "You never know, things could change and a rivalry could start. Something might happen in a game to spark something, where you want to get after them again. That's how rivalries start."

Batting leadoff for the 51s on Wednesday, Inglett went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored to help Las Vegas (35-45) to a 12-6 victory over Reno (41-39) that evened the season series at 2.

With seven hits in his last 11 at-bats, the 31-year-old Inglett has lifted his average to .302 (19-for-63) in 15 games for the 51s.

After batting .297 in 109 games last year for the Toronto Blue Jays, Inglett expected to start this season in the majors but was sent to Las Vegas, where he played only seven games before suffering a pulled hamstring.

He was placed on the disabled list April 30 and activated May 21. The next day, Inglett was promoted to Toronto, where he batted .167 (4-for-24) in 15 games.

"Being hurt, I was trying to get back as fast as possible," Inglett said. "I might not have been ready to go up to the big leagues. But it happened, and I was very thankful for that."

Despite legging out a leadoff double in the first inning Wednesday, Inglett said his hamstring is still not completely healthy. "But I can play on it, and that's all that matters, as long as I can run," he said.

Inglett made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2006, when he hit .284 in 64 games. But an injury hampered his play in 2007, when he batted .253 at Triple-A Buffalo, and he was designated for assignment by Cleveland in early September. The Blue Jays claimed him off waivers that month.

"He's a major league player," 51s manager Mike Basso said. "He's getting back to that level again."

• NOTE -- 51s first baseman Randy Ruiz, who went 3-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs on Wednesday, was the only Las Vegas player elected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team. The Triple-A All-Star Game will be played July 15 in Portland, Ore.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.