51s prevail in 10th on Lindsey’s blast

The 51s might be involved in a playoff race after all.

John Lindsey launched a two-run homer in the 10th inning Thursday night to complete Las Vegas' rally for a dramatic 4-3 victory over Omaha at Cashman Field.

It was the first walk-off win of the season for the 51s, who pulled to within 51/2 games of first-place Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division.

After splitting four games with the River Cats coming out of the All-Star break, Las Vegas trailed by 71/2 games. The deficit climbed to eight games before the 51s (55-51) regained 21/2 the last two nights.

Las Vegas has four games left against the River Cats (60-45), at home Aug. 8 to 11.

"We want to be within striking distance when they come in here, so until then we have to take care of business," 51s manager Lorenzo Bundy said.

After Omaha went ahead 3-1 in the top of the 10th on Ryan Shealy's pinch-hit, two-run double, Jason Repko singled to lead off the bottom half. PCL batting leader and U.S. Olympian Terry Tiffee -- who went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .380 -- drilled an RBI double to deep center to make it 3-2.

Lindsey then launched a 2-1 pitch from Yasuhiko Yabuta over the wall in right-center for his first walk-off homer with the 51s. The mild-mannered slugger raised his arm in triumph while rounding first base to the delight of 5,808 fans on dollar-beer night.

"I didn't know if I had enough to get it out, but when I looked at (first-base coach) Johnny (Moses) and he was giving me a high-five, I knew that must have got the job done," said Lindsey, who raised his team-leading totals to 19 homers and 77 RBIs while going 3-for-5 to climb to .318.

"I got a little carried away. I normally try to stay reserved, but I got caught up in the moment and gave a little pump."

Lindsey was embarrassed to say he had no idea what pitch he hit out of the park.

"People ask me about pitches all the time and I don't know," said Lindsey, who said his thought process was to get a game-tying single. "I'm just looking for anything, a fastball, and try to react to whatever else comes. ... He gave me something I could get some good wood on."

Las Vegas, which stranded runners in the seventh, eighth and ninth, took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Xavier Paul's bases-loaded groundout. Omaha tied it 1-1 in the sixth on Chris Lubanski's solo shot.

51s starter Miguel Pinango allowed one run on six hits in six innings, and Dwayne Pollok allowed two hits over three otherwise perfect innings.

• NOTES -- Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre was 1-for-4 and played nine innings in his second rehab start for Las Vegas. ... The Dodgers optioned infielder Luis Maza to the 51s. ... Las Vegas lefty Greg Miller and outfielder John-Ford Griffin were placed on the disabled list, infielder Ramon Martinez was released and infielder Rex Rundgren was activated.