51s’ bullpen shaky again as losing streak hits nine

For the fourth time in five starts this season, Brad Mills turned in a stellar pitching performance for the 51s on Friday.

But after tossing six scoreless innings against Sacramento, the hard-luck left-hander could only watch as Las Vegas' bullpen wasted a lead for the second straight night in a 2-1 loss to the River Cats at blustery Cashman Field.

After starting 9-4, the 51s (9-13) have lost nine straight games, matching their longest skid from last year.

"Brad kept us in a good tempo. They just pitched stronger than we did out of the bullpen. That's the bottom line," 51s manager Marty Brown said. "We've addressed some things, and I think our bullpen's going to respond to them. Unfortunately tonight we didn't."

Mills (1-2), who lowered his ERA from 2.67 to 2.18, scattered four hits, walked two, struck out nine and threw 66 of 101 pitches for strikes.

"His pitch count got up, but not because he was pitching in and out of the zone. Sacramento's a good hitting club, and they were fouling off a lot of good pitches," Brown said. "He was in command his whole outing."

Winston Abreu, one of eight 51s pitchers who saw action in Thursday's 13-9, 13-inning loss -- which Las Vegas led 8-6 in the ninth -- replaced Mills to start the seventh. Abreu promptly allowed a hard-hit single to Anthony Recker.

Adrian Cardenas then doubled to right-center on a ball that Las Vegas center fielder Scott Podsednik dived for but failed to catch.

Josh Donaldson followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Recker, who beat Podsednik's throw to tie it 1-1 and saddle Abreu (1-2) with a blown save.

Adam Heether walked, and Cardenas took third on a wild pitch. Josh Horton followed with an RBI groundout to give the River Cats the lead.

Chris Woodward, the 51s shortstop, tried to start an inning-ending double play at second base, but Heether was running on the 3-2 pitch and was safe.

In the second inning, Woodward hit a wind-aided double to lead off and scored on a single by Adam Loewen. Woodward's high pop fly to shallow center dropped in between five Sacramento players, who couldn't locate the ball in the twilight and amid wind gusts of more than 30 mph.

"That ball just couldn't be seen," Brown said. "It was a very difficult night."

River Cats right-hander Graham Godfrey (3-0) nearly matched Mills in the first six innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He threw 69 of 103 pitches for strikes.

Joe Bateman followed with two perfect innings, and Vinnie Chulk pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save for Sacramento (13-9).

"We've challenged our bullpen to go out, be aggressive and pitch in the zone, and I think we're going to see better things to come," Brown said.

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