Hiccup doesn’t hamper solid start for 51s’ Mills

After his season was cut short by injury last year, 51s left-hander Brad Mills vowed to get in the best shape of his life.

A fit and healthy Mills flourished in his first four starts for Las Vegas this season, compiling a 2-1 record with a 2.19 ERA, 32 strikeouts and six walks in 24 2/3 innings.

He turned in his worst outing of the season Friday in a 5-1 loss to Colorado Springs at Cashman Field, but his performance wasn't poor by Pacific Coast League standards.

Mills, 25, allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings, struck out six and walked three as his ERA climbed to 3.03.

"He wasn't as sharp tonight as he's been in the past," 51s manager Dan Rohn said after his team's 10th loss in 15 games. "He left a lot of pitches up in the zone early, and he couldn't command his fastball as well as in the past."

A 2007 fourth-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, Mills gave up a solo home run to Sky Sox right fielder Matt Miller in the first inning.

The 51s tied it 1-1 in the third on a run-scoring single by Brett Wallace, but that was the only run they mustered as a season-high crowd of 8,186 had to wait until after the game to see fireworks.

Las Vegas (11-11) finished with eight hits, seven of them singles.

"We couldn't get anything going," Rohn said. "It was kind of a lethargic game tonight."

Starter Alan Johnson (1-0) held the 51s to one run on seven hits in five innings, and three relievers limited Las Vegas to one hit and no runs over the final four.

Matt Reynolds closed the game with two perfect innings for the Sky Sox (12-9), striking out three and walking none.

Chris Iannetta doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on a single by Travis Metcalf to put Colorado Springs up 2-1.

Mills gave up a single to Iannetta to start the sixth and then walked Jay Payton and Michael McKenry to load the bases with no outs before departing.

Sean Henn relieved and promptly gave up a two-run single to center to Metcalf.

Jonathan Herrera capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

Before the game, Rohn said Mills reminded him of a "hard-throwing Barry Zito," the San Francisco Giants left-hander and former Cy Young Award winner.

"His delivery and motion reminds me a lot of that," he said. "He can pitch up in the zone like Zito does, and he's got a breaking ball like Zito does.

"So far, he's been outstanding."

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