Gonzalez gives 51s another strong start

The 51s have played only two games, but the 2010 edition has achieved something last year's team never did: a winning record.

Las Vegas, which started 0-5 last season and never broke the good side of .500, beat Salt Lake 7-3 on Friday before a crowd of 7,058 at Cashman Field for its second victory to start the season.

A night after Brad Mills and three relievers blanked the Bees 2-0 on three hits, Rey Gonzalez allowed two earned runs in six innings, and two relievers held Salt Lake (0-2) to one hit and no runs over the last three innings.

"We've been pretty consistent with our pitching staff," Las Vegas manager Dan Rohn said. "Both guys went six innings, threw the ball extremely well and the bullpen's been very good so -- knock on wood -- it's working all right right now."

The 51s' bats came alive as well, producing four runs in the fourth inning and three in the fifth. Catcher J.P. Arencibia went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and designated hitter Brian Dopirak went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

"It has taken everybody a little bit to get used to being under the lights and the adrenaline and the start of a new year," said Dopirak, who lined a two-run double to right field in the fifth and a single to left in the seventh. "Some of the nerves got worked out tonight for a few guys."

Arencibia lined a two-run single to center in the fourth inning to give Las Vegas a 2-0 lead and added a run-scoring single in the fifth to make it 7-1.

Chris Lubanski, also 2-for-4, had an RBI double in the fourth, launching the ball high off the wall in right for a 3-0 lead. Shortstop Jesus Merchan followed with a sharp single to left to make it 4-0.

Second baseman Luis Figueroa and right fielder Jeremy Reed added two hits apiece for the 51s, who finished with 13 and have 21 in two games -- but no home runs.

"I thought we were going to be a three-run homer team, but we're a singles team," Rohn said. "We're scoring from all over the place. They're making me a liar right now."

Gonzalez, a 5-foot-9-inch right-hander from Key West, Fla., gave up five hits, struck out five and walked none in his Triple-A debut. He threw 85 pitches, 54 for strikes.

"He's got command," Rohn said. "He's a guy who is going to throw strikes. He's not overpowering, nothing great, but he's a competitor."

Gonzalez, 4-6 with a 2.90 ERA last year at Double-A New Hampshire, retired the first five batters and 10 of 12.

Josh Roenicke had two strikeouts in two perfect innings, and Jesse Carlson allowed one hit and struck out one in the ninth.

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