Four-run lead gets away in 51s’ 6-5 loss at Fresno
Ryan Rohlinger's bases-loaded single in the ninth inning scored Adam Witter, giving the Fresno Grizzlies a 6-5 victory over the Las Vegas 51s in the Pacific Coast League on Thursday at Fresno, Calif.
The 51s (8-19) took a 5-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning, but Fresno scored once in the bottom of the inning and three in the eighth to tie it.
In the ninth, Las Vegas reliever Jonah Bayliss (3-1) retired the first batter on a popout, then allowed a walk to Witter and consecutive singles to Jesus Guzman, Matt Downs and Rohlinger.
51s starter Brad Mills gave up one run (unearned) on three hits through six innings but allowed four straight singles and a run with one out in the seventh. Reliever Bryan Bullington induced an inning-ending double play but gave up four hits and three runs in one inning of work.
The 51s' big inning was a four-run fifth that included a three-run homer by Howie Clark and a solo shot by designated hitter Bryan Harper.
Clark added an RBI double in the seventh.
Sacramento River Cats at Las Vegas 51s
WHEN: 7:05 p.m. today and Saturday, 12:05 p.m. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Monday
WHERE: Cashman Field
RECORDS: River Cats (15-12); 51s (8-19)
AFFILIATIONS: Sacramento, Oakland Athletics; Las Vegas, Toronto Blue Jays
TODAY'S PITCHERS: River Cats LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 2.12 ERA) vs. 51s LHP David Purcey (0-0, 2.84)
RADIO: KBAD-AM (920)
SERIES NOTES: Purcey, who was sent from Toronto to Las Vegas on May 1, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his first start for the 51s, a 4-2 loss to Salt Lake on Sunday at Cashman Field. He allowed two runs on one hit, walked five and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings. ... The 51s have the worst record in the 16-team Pacific Coast League and trail the first-place River Cats by seven games in the Pacific Southern division. Las Vegas is 0-7 on Saturday and Sunday and 0-5 in day games. ... Sacramento second baseman Eric Patterson leads the defending PCL and Triple-A champion River Cats with a .294 batting average. ... First baseman Brett Harper (.317) is the only Las Vegas starter batting better than .300. Harper has six homers and 20 RBIs. ... The 51s are fourth in the PCL in batting, with a .275 average, while the River Cats are hitting a league-low .229.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
