51s’ turnaround only fleeting

After matching their longest win streak Friday with their fourth straight victory, the struggling 51s appeared poised to turn their season around.

But Las Vegas quickly reverted to its prior form of poor pitching and defense, making seven errors and allowing 21 runs and 30 hits in consecutive losses to Colorado Springs on Saturday and Sunday at Cashman Field.

The 51s made a season-high five errors in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Sky Sox and allowed six two-out runs in the seventh and eighth innings in a 11-6 defeat Sunday.

"Sloppy defense didn't help us any (Saturday) and two two-out, 0-2 innings in the seventh and eighth put us behind the eight ball (Sunday)," manager Dan Rohn said.

With the 51s trailing the Sky Sox 5-4 in the seventh Sunday, starter Marc Rzepczynski was a strike away from retiring the side when he hit Brad Eldred with a pitch for the second time in the game.

Jay Payton singled and Cole Garner hit a two-run double down the left-field line to give Colorado Springs a 7-4 lead. The ball appeared foul, but plate umpire Tyler Funneman ruled it was fair.

"We were right in the ballgame until that double down the line," Rohn said. "(Rzepczynski) was one pitch away from pitching a pretty good ballgame."

Despite allowing six earned runs on nine hits, a walk and three hit batsmen in 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts, Rzepczynski (1-3) lowered his ERA from 9.64 to 9.30.

Las Vegas (27-37) answered with two runs in the seventh. Jonathan Diaz walked and Brett Wallace doubled to shallow right on a fly ball that Sky Sox second baseman Kaz Matsui and right fielder Matt Miller lost in the sun.

Brian Dopirak lined a two-run double to make it 7-6, but Colorado Springs (30-32) scored four runs in the eighth.

Paul Phillips and Matsui singled and Miller walked to load the bases for Eldred, who crushed a three-run, two-out, two-strike double to center to give the Sky Sox a 10-6 lead. Garner added an RBI single.

"We've got to make our pitches and we've got to make plays when we get the chance," Rohn said.

The game was delayed for 26 minutes between the first two pitches of the first inning to dry the infield. Dexter Fowler hit a leadoff triple, but the speedy center fielder stumbled after rounding second base, prompting the delay.

When play resumed, Rzepczynski struck out Matsui but made an error on a slow bouncer in front of home plate by Miller, allowing Fowler to score.

The 51s scored four two-out runs in the first. Jarrett Hoffpauir doubled and scored on a single by Dopirak, who led the 51s with three hits and three RBIs.

Jorge Padilla lifted a three-run double to right field later in the inning.

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