51s can’t overcome early deficit in 8-2 loss to Omaha

Every time the 51s tried to cut the deficit, the Storm Chasers got their lead right back. Las Vegas could never get within two runs and ended up falling 8-2 to Omaha on Wednesday night at Werner Park.

Omaha has won three of the first four games in the series. Omaha also took the lead in the all-time series between the two, 46-45.

“We didn’t keep it close enough when we had a chance,” acting manager Jack Voigt said. “At the same time we never put enough offense together to make a difference.”

Manager Wally Backman was serving the first game of a two-game suspension for his ejection and tirade Saturday night. Voigt, the hitting coach, was the acting manager Wednesday and will be again Thursday.

The Storm Chasers took advantage of an early error, getting leadoff hitter Orlando Calixte on base courtesy of a throwing error by shortstop Gavin Cecchini. If the out was made and the rest of the inning stayed the same, Las Vegas would have escaped with only one run allowed. Instead, Omaha capitalized and scored a pair of two-out runs.

The 51s scored on the next chance they got on a two-out rally of their own. Two runners got on before Cecchini got a chance to atone for himself and singled in the first Las Vegas run of the game.

The score stayed 3-1 until Omaha first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor blasted a ball back into the night, and right back to a three-run lead went Omaha.

The 51s scored in the seventh, but so too did Omaha. Then Fuenmayor hit his second home run of the night to extend the lead to 8-2.

“We couldn’t put anything against their pitcher,” Voigt said. “It’s frustrating that their guy was able to handle us because we have better hitters than that.”

Omaha starter Jonathan Dziedzic went five innings and allowed only one run on three hits while striking out five.

In the other dugout, 51s left-hander Sean Gilmartin threw the ball well, going six innings and allowing four runs, but only one earned. He struck out three before turning the ball over to the bullpen.

Justin Emerson can be reached at jemerson@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @J15Emerson