Potent hitting hasn’t hid 51s’ other flaws

Although their losing record suggests otherwise, the 51s (43-48) have been a model of consistency in several vital areas in the first half of their Pacific Coast League season.

Las Vegas leads the league in virtually every offensive category entering the Triple-A All-Star break. But the 51s have been consistently bad on the mound and on defense.

"I said we were going to hit, and we have. I also said we were going to have a tough time catching the ball, and we did because we didn't have any speed," 51s manager Dan Rohn said before Saturday's doubleheader against the Salt Lake Bees at Cashman Field. "But we're better now, and we're athletic at some crucial positions, and we'll be better in the second half of the season.

"The pitching will get better because we'll catch the ball better."

Las Vegas leads the PCL in batting (.301), doubles (220), home runs (113), hits (961) and slugging percentage (.488).

But it also leads the 16-team league in errors (108), hits allowed (1,001), runs allowed (601), earned runs allowed (514) and walks allowed (364) and had the highest ERA (5.88).

Rohn hopes the addition of athletes such as Mike McCoy, Adam Calderone and Danny Perales will help improve the team's defense and pitching.

"That goes hand in hand. If there's confidence we're going to catch the ball and get to the ball, we're going to pitch to more contact," Rohn said. "It bodes better for our pitching if we at least show some ability to catch the baseball."

Las Vegas starting pitchers are 26-40 with a 7.00 ERA while its relievers are 17-8 with a 4.28 ERA.

"We've had about 12 different starters. We've put guys in positions not to succeed because they weren't starters," Rohn said. "Then we had guys come up who were on rehab assignments and were trying to get their feet wet, and it was like spring training for them.

"But it's better now because we have guys who are ready to pitch."

Starters Brad Mills and Robert Ray have each missed more than a month with injuries, but they'll start the second half healthy, and Rohn hopes their presence will help stabilize the staff.

Rohn said his most valuable pitchers have been closer Jeremy Accardo and left-handers Rommie Lewis and Sean Henn, who have split time between starting and relieving.

Accardo (2-0, 3.08 ERA), who has converted 14 of 15 save opportunities, and Henn (2-2, 2.90) are the only two pitchers on the squad with ERAs better than 3.38.

"Our bullpen has been very stellar for the most part," said Rohn, who named catcher J.P. Arencibia and second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir his first-half Most Valuable Players.

"They've had tremendous first halves," he said.

Arencibia singled in Saturday's opener and homered twice in the second game to extend his season-high hitting streak to 18 games. He's hitting .319 with a league-leading 25 homers and 64 RBIs. Named a starter for the PCL in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game, he also leads the league in total bases (199) and slugging percentage (.644) and is second in doubles (26).

First baseman Brett Wallace and outfielder Chris Lubanski also were named PCL All-Stars. But Lubanski was placed on the disabled list Monday because of an oblique injury and will miss the game, which will be played at Coca-Cola Park Allentown, Pa., about 50 miles from his hometown of Lansdale, Pa.

Wallace is batting .296 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs. Lubanski is hitting .308 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs.

Hoffpauir, who led Las Vegas with three hits in Saturday's opener and homered in the second game, hit for the cycle twice in 34 days earlier this year and is batting .328 with 11 homers and 51 RBIs.

He was one of eight 51s players promoted to the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

"You want to win games, but it's all about getting work done and getting guys ready," Rohn said. "Hopefully they're ready when they get the call. That's what we're working for."

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