51s beat Royals, reach .500 for first time this season

Buck Coats had four hits, Travis Snider added three, and Randy Ruiz drove in three runs Friday as the 51s reached .500 for the first time this season with a 6-3 Pacific Coast League victory over the Omaha Royals in Omaha, Neb.

The 51s, who opened the season 2-8 and have been mired in last place in the Pacific South Division since mid-April, won for the 10th time in 12 games to improve to 57-57.

Ruiz drove in the go-ahead run in the third inning as Las Vegas took a 2-1 lead. He had a run-scoring ground-out in a two-run fifth to keep the 51s in front and added an RBI single in the ninth as the 51s scored twice for the final margin.

Coats had three singles and a double and drove in a run, and Snider had two singles and a double and drove in a run for Las Vegas.

The 51s finished with 13 hits.

Davis Romero (3-3) worked the first five innings for Las Vegas and picked up the victory, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Bubbie Buzachero, the third of three 51s relievers, struck out two in a perfect ninth to record his seventh save.

Starter Brandon Duckworth (3-6) took the loss for the Royals (46-66). He gave up four runs, all earned, and eight hits in six innings.