51s can’t close deal in opener

Before fireworks exploded over Cashman Field on Friday night, 51s closer Rommie Lewis imploded on it.

The left-hander allowed four runs in the ninth inning without recording an out to let Fresno erase a 7-6 deficit and escape with an 11-7 win that spoiled Las Vegas' 29th home opener, in front of a crowd of 8,285.

Lewis walked the bases loaded with no outs and allowed Brock Bond to score the tying run on a wild pitch. He then gave up a two-run double down the right-field line to Conor Gillaspie as the Grizzlies took a 9-7 lead.

Lewis (0-2), who threw only five of 19 pitches for strikes after entering with three saves and a 0.00 ERA in four games this season, was at a loss to explain what happened.

"I have no clue what's going on right now," he said. "I didn't feel right. I felt good coming out of the pen, but my body just isn't as loose as I'd like it to be. It feels weird.

"I've been fighting it, and today it kind of bit me in the (behind). I just feel like I'm forcing the ball. I hope I can fix it quick."

Mike Hinckley relieved Lewis and gave up a single to Brett Pill and an RBI double to Travis Ishikawa that made it 10-7.

Ryan Rohlinger, who led Fresno (6-3) with two homers and five RBIs, added a sacrifice fly for an 11-7 lead.

"He just didn't have any kind of command tonight," 51s manager Marty Brown said of Lewis. "He was trying to figure it out and couldn't get it done. It's unfortunate it had to happen tonight."

Brett Lawrie and Eric Thames had three hits apiece for Las Vegas (5-4), and David Cooper and Ryan Shealy added two hits apiece.

The 51s rallied for four runs with two outs in the sixth to take a 7-4 lead.

Lawrie legged out an infield single that scored Ryan Budde, who had doubled, to tie it 4-4.

Thames singled and Cooper cracked an opposite-field RBI single to left to give Las Vegas a 5-4 lead.

After an intentional walk to Shealy loaded the bases, Adam Loewen ripped a two-run single to right to make it 7-4.

Rohlinger's first blast gave the Grizzlies a 4-3 lead in the sixth, and his second two-run shot, in the eighth, cut Fresno's deficit to 7-6.

Left-hander Willie Collazo made his first start of the year for the 51s after getting called up Friday from Double-A New Hampshire. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings, with two strikeouts and three walks.

Fresno took a 2-0 lead in the third, when Collazo loaded the bases with two outs and then gave up a two-run single to Gillaspie.

Las Vegas, which plated all of its runs with two outs, scored in the third on an RBI double by Thames and took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on RBI singles by Cooper and Shealy.

Grizzlies starter Doug Mathis, who had five strikeouts in the first two innings, allowed two earned runs on six hits in five innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks.

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