51s’ comeback bid falls short

Trailing by three runs with the heart of their batting order due up in the bottom of the ninth inning, the 51s had the New Orleans Zephyrs right where they wanted them.

Las Vegas had rallied from at least three runs down in the ninth Saturday and Sunday for two walk-off wins, but the 51s' final at-bat magic ran out Monday in an 8-5 loss at Cashman Field.

Las Vegas erased an early 4-0 deficit and tied the game 5-5 in the seventh. But New Orleans answered in the eighth when Alejandro De Aza hit a tiebreaking three-run double off the left-field wall.

"We weren't able to get that shutdown inning after we tied the game," Las Vegas manager Mike Basso said. "That comes back to haunt you."

Andy Gonzalez led off the eighth with a single off 51s reliever Dirk Hayhurst, who then hit Michael Ryan and allowed a single to John Raynor to load the bases for De Aza.

The 51s went quietly in the ninth as Howie Clark grounded out, Randy Ruiz flew out, Brett Harper walked and J.P. Arencibia struck out.

"We couldn't get guys on to mount a comeback," said Clark, who made a crucial error in the third inning.

With runners at first and second with one out for New Orleans, former 51s slugger John Lindsey hit a tailor-made double-play ground ball to Clark, who let it bounce between his legs, allowing one run to score and paving the way for a four-run inning by the Zephyrs.

"I kicked an easy double-play ball that led to a few runs, and it changed the course of the game," said Clark, who helped atone for his miscue with a team-high three RBIs.

Las Vegas starter Brett Cecil -- the No. 3 prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays -- walked Brett Carroll to load the bases, then allowed a run to score on a wild pitch. After walking Matt Craig, Cecil hit Gonzalez to make it 3-0, and John Purdom followed with an RBI groundout for a 4-0 lead.

"I can't walk three guys and hit a batter," Cecil said. "It just can't happen. If I don't do that, the inning's over."

The 51s answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, on an RBI single by Buck Coats and a two-run double by Clark, to make it 4-3.

Cameron Maybin's RBI triple in the fourth gave New Orleans (16-28) a 5-3 lead.

Clark hit a run-scoring single in the fifth to make it 5-4, and Las Vegas (18-26) tied the game in the seventh on an RBI single by Randy Ruiz.

• NOTES -- Toronto recalled left-hander Ricky Romero from Las Vegas, which activated right-hander Robert Ray. 51s infielder Kevin Howard was placed on the disabled list, and left-hander Davis Romero was promoted to Las Vegas from Double-A New Hampshire.

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