51s’ Bundy stays positive

Halfway through his first season as a Triple-A manager, Lorenzo Bundy finds his team in last place, thanks in large part to a pitching staff that struggles to throw strikes.

But despite the 51s' struggles in the Pacific Coast League, Bundy remains optimistic his team won't finish last.

"There's a lot of baseball left," Bundy said Tuesday before five Las Vegas pitchers combined to walk six Colorado Springs batters and surrender 16 hits in an 8-2 loss to the Sky Sox at Cashman Field. "Six and a half games is not that far away."

The 51s trail division leader Sacramento by seven games and will reach the halfway point of the season tonight. They will get the opportunity to make up the difference in the next few weeks.

After Friday's conclusion to a four-game homestand with the Sky Sox, Las Vegas heads to Fresno for four games with the third-place Grizzlies, then returns home to face second-place Tucson for three and Fresno for four before heading to Arizona for five with the Sidewinders.

"We play Tucson and Fresno a lot, and that is going to be a critical stretch for us," Bundy said. "The best way to make up ground is by beating the teams you're trying to catch."

Like most Triple-A managers, Bundy faces a battle with continuity on his roster. The 51s have undergone a notable series of alterations in their lineup with the departure of Matt Kemp, James Loney, Tony Abreu, Marlon Anderson, Hong-Chih Kuo and Yhency Brazoban, who all were recalled to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Also, veterans Kelly Stinnett, Larry Bigbie and Joe Mays left the club.

Yet the team has managed to avoid prolonged slumps, and despite being 32-39, Bundy said things have settled down recently.

"We have to realize who we are," Bundy said. "We're not the same team we were when we started the season.

"With guys leaving, the rest of them know they're more accountable. When guys leave, that creates opportunity."

The 51s entered Tuesday's game fourth in the PCL in hitting with a .288 batting average.

"I like the way we're hitting right now," Bundy said. "We're hitting .287 on the road, which is a good sign as far as I'm concerned."

Bundy's big concern is the pitching. The 51s lead the PCL in walks with 288, and they have the league's highest ERA (5.26).

"We'll have one or two bad innings where it gets away from us, and those are the losses that really hurt," Bundy said. "We've struggled in the bullpen at times. We have to challenge the strike zone and pitchers have to have confidence in themselves to get hitters out."

51s president Don Logan said Bundy, 48, has been a great hire.

"I'm happy with Lorenzo," Logan said. "He's been tremendous to work with. He runs the game well. He doesn't leave you any opportunities to second-guess him.

"When you manage at this level, you have to be very malleable. You have to work with player development, but you also want to win. Lorenzo wants to win. We just have to pitch better."

Bundy, who last managed in 1997 at Class A Brevard County in the Florida State League, said running a Triple-A club hasn't been as big a challenge as one might imagine.

"Having spent four seasons in Tucson, I knew what this level was about," he said. "Surprises? No. I've been in this game for almost 30 years, and after so many years, you see everything.

"At this level, call-ups come with the territory. Our guys work hard, and I haven't had any problems. We've got an entire second half to play and finish where we want to be."

• NOTES -- Cimarron-Memorial High School graduate Mike Esposito (3-0, 7.01 ERA), who was scheduled to pitch Friday for the Sky Sox, had his turn pushed to Saturday. He will be replaced by right-hander Jorge De Paula (6-2, 4.55) in the series finale. ... 51s infielder Sergio Garcia (eye infection) was activated Monday and Joseph Jones was sent to Ogden of the Pioneer League.