51s plate five in ninth inning en route to victory vs. Bees
The 51s erupted for five ninth-inning runs, snapping a 6-6 tie to beat the Salt Lake Buzz 11-6 in a Pacific Coast League game in Salt Lake City.
Aaron Mathews led off the ninth with a walk for Las Vegas (64-67), and Kevin Howard reached on a bunt. Angel Sanchez walked to load the bases, and Buck Coats cleared them with a three-run double.
Joe Inglett followed with a two-run homer to cap the outburst.
Las Vegas also scored five runs in the fourth inning, powered by two-run blasts from J.P. Arencibia and Kyle Phillips, but the 51s let their 5-1 lead slip away over the next four innings.
Salt Lake (62-68) tied it at 6 in the bottom of the eighth when Chris Pettit tripled and advanced to home on a throwing error.
Phillips finished with two homers on the night, hitting a solo shot to lead off the seventh inning. Inglett went 3-for-5 with a double to go along with his home run.
RENO ACES AT LAS VEGAS 51s
WHEN: 7:05 p.m. today through Sunday
WHERE: Cashman Field
RECORDS: Aces 69-61; 51s 64-67
AFFILIATIONS: Reno, Arizona Diamondbacks; Las Vegas, Toronto Blue Jays
TODAY’S PITCHERS: Aces RHP Billy Buckner (9-3, 3.25 ERA) vs. 51s LHP Fabio Castro (6-6, 4.56)
RADIO: KBAD-AM (920)
SERIES NOTES: Las Vegas is in fourth place in the Pacific Southern Division and trails the Pacific Coast League-leading Sacramento River Cats (81-49) by 17 games. ... The 51s lead their season series against Reno 6-5. ... Las Vegas leads the league in batting, with a .291 average, and has five players among the PCL’s top 20 hitters: first baseman Randy Ruiz (.320), second baseman Howie Clark (.317), center fielder Buck Coats (.308), third baseman Kevin Howard (.304) and shortstop Angel Sanchez (.301). ... Despite playing for the Blue Jays the past two weeks, Ruiz continues to lead the PCL in RBIs (106) and doubles (43), is second in hits (148) and third in home runs (25). ... The 51s, 34-29 at home, will host the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, from Monday through Sept. 3 to cap their final homestand of the season.
TODD DEWEY/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
