Sacramento holds 51s to 5 hits, Las Vegas loses 6th straight

The dog days of the summer continue for the Las Vegas 51s.

The 51s nabbed an early 1-0 lead on Tuesday night, but couldn’t get to Sacraento River Cats pitcher Matt Gage and stumbled to a 3-1 Pacific Coast League loss at Raley Field in West Sacramento, California in the second game of their four-game set.

Las Vegas manager Pedro Lopez commended Gage after the game, and said he had an excellent command and controlled the game.

“He was getting ahead, and he kept us off balance the whole night,” Las Vegas manager Pedro Lopez said. “Once again you’ve got to tip your hat … I thought he did a really good job.”

Gage threw seven innings of one-run ball, walking no one and allowing just four hits.

The 51s actually got to him in the top of the fourth inning, though, when Josh Rodriguez gave Las Vegas (52-84) a 1-0 lead with an RBI single, but the River Cats responded in the bottom half with a two-run home run from Mac Williamson.

Sacramento (60-75) tacked on its third run in the bottom of the fifth inning via a misplay by Las Vegas second baseman Jeff McNeil.

Derek Law took over for Gage in the eighth inning and surrendered just one hit over two more scoreless innings.

Mitch Atkins (4-8) scattered seven hits and the two earned runs over six innings for the 51s, who have lost six consecutive games.

Lopez is hoping his team can conclude the season on a high-note.

“(The goal) is to finish up strong, finish up winning,” Lopez said. “We’re in the dog days now. It’s really hard … It’s part of it. You’ve still got to go out there and execute.”

Up next

■ Who: Las Vegas 51s at Sacramento River Cats

■ When: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday

■ Where: Raley Field, West Sacramento, California

■ Starters: Jonathan Albaladejo (1-3, 4.85 ERA) vs. TBD

Next five

■ Wednesday: Las Vegas at Sacramento, 7:05 p.m.

■ Thursday: Las Vegas at Sacramento 7:05 p.m.

■ Friday: Las Vegas vs. Tacoma 7:05 p.m.

■ Saturday: Las Vegas vs. Tacoma 7:05 p.m.

■ Sunday: Las Vegas vs. Tacoma 12:05 p.m.

Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.