51s fall short to River Cats in pitching duel
Carlos Hernandez outdueled 51s starter Brett Cecil as the Sacramento River Cats beat Las Vegas 2-0 in a Pacific Coast League game at West Sacramento, Calif.
Hernandez threw 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing five hits and a walk, with three strikeouts for Sacramento (78-52).
Cecil was nearly as good in seven-plus innings, allowing five hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. But with two outs in the fourth inning and runners on first and third, he threw a wild pitch that plated the River Cats' first run.
In the eighth inning, Cecil put runners on first and second on a single and a hit batsmen before getting pulled for Jerry Gil, who gave up an RBI single to Grant Green to make it 2-0.
The 51s (73-56) could have cut the River Cats' Pacific South Division lead to 2½ games. Las Vegas will get a chance to pull back within 3½ at 7:05 p.m. today.
■ NOTES - Ricardo Nanita was named the PCL's player of the week after batting .414 with six home runs and 11 RBIs. Nanita had three homers and a double in Saturday's win at Sacramento. ... A public memorial service will be held for Bob Blum at 4 p.m. Saturday in the club level restaurant at Cashman Field. Blum, a longtime Stars/51s front office employee and broadcaster, died July 22 at age 91.
