El Paso rallies late to edge 51s

Hector Gomez's two-out, bases-loaded RBI single in the ninth inning sent the El Paso Chihuahuas to a 5-4 win over the 51s in a Pacific Coast League game Thursday in El Paso, Texas.

The Chihuahuas (61-57) loaded the bases on three walks, two of which were intentional after a sacrifice and a double steal. Gomez then lined an 0-and-1 pitch from Zach Thornton (4-4) to center field to end it.

Pinch hitter Cody Decker drew a bases-loaded walk off Thornton in the eighth to tie the score at 4.

Gomez went 3-for-4 with a double, and Cory Spangenberg went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, two stolen bases and two runs for El Paso, which was outhit 11-9.

Darrell Ceciliani went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs for Las Vegas (66-53), which saw its lead over the second-place Chihuahuas shrink to 4½ games atop the Pacific South Divison.

Ceciliani's homer, his seventh of the season, was a two-run shot that highlighted the 51s' three-run fifth inning, giving Las Vegas a 4-3 lead that it nursed into the eighth.

51s starter Logan Verrett gave up three runs on six hits and two walks and struck out seven in four innings.

El Paso starter Chris Smith gave up four runs, three earned, on eight hits and three walks and struck out four in 4 2/3 innings.

Jay Jackson (2-3) pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to pick up the victory.