T.J. Rivera powers Las Vegas to wild 10-8 win over Fresno
The Pacific Coast League is known for its high scores, and it’s safe to say the 51s and Fresno Grizzlies played a typical PCL game. Las Vegas just did it a little better.
T.J. Rivera knocked in two runs in the eighth inning with a bases-loaded double that stayed just inside the left-field foul line for the sixth and final lead change to lift Las Vegas to a 10-8 victory Saturday night at Cashman Field.
“When I hit it, I knew I didn’t hook it too much, so I had a feeling it was going to stay fair,” Rivera said. “It was a pretty good feeling.”
Rivera homered, doubled twice and had five RBIs, giving him 79 and tying him with Travis Taijeron for the team lead.
“It’s not the first night he had a night like this,” manager Wally Backman said. “I’m shocked that T.J. has not an opportunity to go to the big leagues yet.”
Fresno (63-51) started the game with a bang, riding a Jon Singleton three-run homer to a 3-0 lead after half an inning. The 51s answered with a run in the first and two in the second to tie the score, then took the lead on a Roger Bernadina RBI single in the third.
It would not be a typical PCL game without numerous lead changes, so Fresno took the lead right back with three in the fourth, only to give it back to Las Vegas after Rivera blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning.
After four innings, Las Vegas led 8-6.
“We always feel like we have an opportunity to come back in the game,” Rivera said. “We have a lot of really good hitters, so when you have the lineup like that I think we’re pretty confident that whatever the score is we still have an opportunity, a chance to come back.”
But the scoring was far from over. The Grizzlies tacked on a run in the fifth and sixth, and the seventh was the first inning in which neither team scored.
That’s when Rivera decided enough was enough.
Gavin Cecchini started the eighth inning with a double, his fourth hit, his second four-hit game of the season. A walk and a failed bunt later, Johnny Monell walked to load the bases. Then Rivera uncorked a double to give the 51s the lead for good.
The teams combined to use eight pitchers who threw 315 pitches. There were 26 hits and 11 walks.
The 51s (57-58) aren’t out of playoff contention, but they need to start stringing together wins if they want a chance at the postseason. Las Vegas is six games behind first-place El Paso in the Pacific South Division.
“El Paso has given us every chance to catch them,” Backman said. “It doesn’t happen very often that you come back, but who knows. The guys are fighting for it.”
The 51s have 29 games left, four against El Paso.
“It’s nice to still be in the hunt and be able to compete for a reason,” Rivera said. “Hopefully things work out the way we need them to and we keep winning games.”
Up next
Who: Las Vegas 51s at Albuquerque Isotopes
When: 5:05 p.m. Sunday
Where: Isotopes Park
Starters: Gabriel Ynoa (10-4, 4.42 ERA), 51s, vs TBD
Next five
Monday: Las Vegas at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Tuesday: Las Vegas at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Wednesday: Las Vegas at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Thursday: Off
Friday: New Orleans at Las Vegas, 7:05 p.m.
Update
Second baseman L.J. Mazzilli, assigned to Triple A on Friday for the first time this season, started at second base and batted second. He has been in the New York Mets’ organization since being drafted in the fourth round in 2013.
Justin Emerson can be reached at jemerson@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @J15Emerson
