51s climb back to .500 with win over division leader El Paso

With two straight losses, the 51s found themselves 8½ games behind El Paso before Monday’s play essentially with their backs against the wall.

But with victories Monday and Tuesday, they shaved two games off and finished the critical series right where they started.

Las Vegas beat El Paso 3-2 on Tuesday at Cashman Field, bringing it to 55-55 on the season.

Starter Gabriel Ynoa picked up his 10th victory and his first since June 23.

“I don’t know how many chances he’s had to win his 10th game, but he’s had a lot,” manager Wally Backman said. “I thought he pitched very well tonight, the best I’ve seen him pitch in probably six or seven starts.”

Heading into Tuesday’s start, Ynoa had given up 32 runs — 28 earned — in his past six starts.

But Tuesday, he kept the Pacific Coast League’s best offense in check for most of the night.

Ynoa gave up just two runs — both in the fourth inning — in his seven-inning start, and while he was doing that, the 51s mounted a comeback in the sixth.

Third baseman T.J. Rivera’s three-run homer on the ninth pitch of his at-bat drove in Eric Campbell and Johnny Monell and gave the 51s all the offense they needed.

“I’ve seen multiple at-bats like he had tonight in key situations. I would like to go back and see how many game-winning RBIs this guy’s got, and I would say that it’s quite a few,” Backman said. “I would say that he’s a very good hitter in a crucial part of the game from the sixth on, the seventh on. He’s gotten big hits all year.”

Rivera had gone 1-for-8 in the first two games of the series before a 3-for-4 night Monday, after which he said he had been pressing and trying to do too much.

On Tuesday, Rivera delivered when the 51s needed him to, as he’s seemingly done all season.

“I looked up there with T.J., because he’s struggled the last four, five days, and you’re going ‘God damn, he’s been struggling a little bit,’ you look up there and he’s still hitting .340,” Backman said.

But thanks to Rivera, who delivered the game-tying single in the eighth inning a night before, the 51s split the series, and El Paso leaves town 6½ games ahead, not the ideal outcome for the 51s.

“My worst-case scenario was thinking if we split with them, we stay where we’re at, but the problem is, we’ve played four games and there’s four less games,” Backman said.

The 51s still have four games left with the Chihuahuas at the end of the month, but for those to matter, they’ll have to play near-perfect baseball before then.

“We need to go 24-10 to give ourselves a chance,” Backman said. “Everything’s got to fall into place for you. I think we’re good enough to do that, but I’ve been saying that all year long and we’re sitting at .500. It’s not where I expected us to be at this time.”

Up next

Who: Fresno Grizzlies at Las Vegas 51s

When: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Cashman Field

Starters: Brad Peacock (5-5, 4.13 ERA), Grizzlies, vs. Duane Below (5-9, 4.89 ERA)

Next five

Thursday: Fresno at Las Vegas, Game 1, 5:05 p.m.

Friday: Fresno at Las Vegas, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: Fresno at Las Vegas, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday: Las Vegas at Albuquerque, 5:05 p.m.

Monday: Las Vegas at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.

Update

Between Monday’s trade deadline and several New York Mets’ injuries, the 51s’ roster has been shaken up this week. The team lost three infielders, as Dilson Herrera was traded to the Cincinnati Reds and Matt Reynolds and Ty Kelly were called up to New York. Reliever Josh Edgin also was called up. The Mets optioned outfielder Brandon Nimmo and reliever Seth Lugo back to Las Vegas. Pitcher Luis Mateo was assigned to Triple A from Double-A Binghamton, and Kyle Johnson will join the club from Double-A Binghamton.

Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand