51s drop another close one to Bees
The 51s have the distinction of being part of history this season, albeit dubiously.
Dee Brown's eighth-inning sacrifice fly delivered the decisive run Friday night in the Salt Lake Bees' 3-2 Pacific Coast League victory over Las Vegas at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City.
The win was the sixth straight for the Bees (14-1), who are off to the best start in the franchise's 15-year history.
And half of Salt Lake's wins this season have come against the 51s (6-9).
After opening the season with four straight losses to the Bees at Cashman Field, Las Vegas lost three at Salt Lake City this week, with each game decided by one run.
The 51s, who held a combined 15-7 edge in hits in the first two games, scored first Friday on Terry Tiffee's RBI double in the first inning.
Salt Lake answered in the second, when Ryan Budde's two-run single followed a one-out double by Matthew Brown and Brandon Wood's single.
Tiffee, the PCL's leading hitter, struck again in the fifth with a two-out RBI single to tie the score at 2.
Las Vegas reliever Mike Myers (1-1), a 13-year major league veteran, surrendered the lead in the eighth. Kendry Morales and Matthew Brown hit one-out singles, and, following an intentional walk to Wood, Dee Brown delivered a sacrifice fly.
The 51s threatened in the ninth against Bees closer Jose Arredondo, when Xavier Paul led off with a single and George Lombard was hit by a pitch. But Arredondo escaped the jam with a double-play grounder and a strikeout to earn his seventh save of the season.
Rafael Rodriguez (2-0) gained the win with three innings of one-hit shutout relief. He struck out two.
Justin Orenduff started on the mound for Las Vegas and gave up two runs on five hits and four walks in six innings, with three strikeouts. Ramon Troncoso made his 51s debut in relief, allowing one hit and one walk in one inning, with two strikeouts.
Bees starter Giancarlo Alvarado worked the first five innings and gave up both 51s runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out three.
Morales, Matthew Brown and Gary Patchett had two hits apiece for Salt Lake, which held an 8-6 edge in hits.
RIVER CATS AT 51S
WHEN: 7:05 p.m. today, 12:05 p.m. Sunday, 7:05 p.m. Monday, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Cashman Field
RECORDS: River Cats 9-6, 51s 6-9
AFFILIATIONS: Sacramento, Oakland Athletics; Las Vegas, Los Angeles Dodgers
TODAY'S PITCHERS: River Cats LHP Danny Borrell vs. 51s RHP Miguel Pinango (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
RADIO: KBAD-AM (920)
SERIES NOTES: Las Vegas also will host the Portland Beavers, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, Thursday through April 27, to complete its eight-game homestand. ... 51s players and coaches will wear pink jerseys in tonight's "Game for the Cure Night." The uniforms will be auctioned off after the game, and all proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. ... Las Vegas third baseman Terry Tiffee is leading the Pacific Coast League in batting, with a .509 average (28-for-55), through 15 games. ... The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned right-hander Ramon Troncoso to the 51s.
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