Single in 10th lifts 51s past Fresno

Comebacks are becoming commonplace for the first-place 51s, who rallied for consecutive come-from-behind wins Tuesday and Wednesday.

Las Vegas was at it again on Friday night at Cashman Field, where Brandon Hicks drilled a tying two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning and Eric Campbell lined a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the 10th to send the 51s to a 9-8 victory over the Grizzlies.

It was the sixth straight win for the 51s (75-57) and extended their Pacific South Division lead to two games over Sacramento (74-60) — which split a doubleheader with Colorado Springs.

“This team has been resilient all season, and they continue to come back time after time,” 51s manager Wally Backman said. “We never think we’re out of a game. This team believes that they always have the ability to come back and win the game.”

Juan Centeno hit a single with one out in the 10th, stole second with two outs and took third on a passed ball to set the stage for Campbell, who also supplied the winning hit in Wednesday’s stunner, in which the 51s erased a 7-0 deficit en route to an 8-7 win over Fresno in 11 innings.

Matt den Dekker and Brian Bixler hit consecutive two-out singles in the ninth and advanced to second and third on a double steal before Hicks ripped a line drive down the left-field line.

The Grizzlies scored six runs in the sixth inning, capped by Johnny Monell’s three-run double, to take an 8-5 lead.

The teams combined for 18 walks, including 10 by Fresno (63-70), which walked the bases loaded in the seventh and then issued an RBI walk to Hicks that made it an 8-6 game.

Las Vegas scored three in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. Anthony Recker ripped an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis added an RBI single.

Campbell had three hits, Hicks and Lucas Duda added two hits apiece and den Dekker scored three runs for Las Vegas, which improved to 26-11 overall and 17-3 at home since the All-Star break.

Las Vegas starter Jacob deGrom (4-3) gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings.

San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan went 1-for-3 with two RBIs from the leadoff spot in the first game of his major league rehabilitation stint (left hamstring) for the Grizzlies. He was hit by a pitch on his left foot with the bases loaded in the second inning, but wasn’t injured.

Kensuke Tanaka hit a two-run homer to make it 5-4 in the sixth and finished with three hits, and Chris Dominguez also had three hits for the Grizzlies.

Fresno starter Mitch Lively gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings. Heath Hembree (1-4) blew his fifth save and took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings.

D.J. Mitchell (6-4) got the win, giving up two hits in two scoreless innings.

The 51s, who have won 10 of their past 11 games, have 12 games left in the regular season as they bid for their first Pacific Coast League playoff berth since 2002.

Las Vegas hosts Fresno today and Sunday before heading to Colorado Springs for a six-game series Monday through Thursday. It finishes the season with a four-game series at home against Tucson.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33.