Taijeron hits three homers, powers 51s back into first

Travis Taijeron hit three home runs and drove in four runs to propel the 51s to an 8-3 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers in a Pacific Coast League game Friday at Cashman Field.

With the victory, coupled with El Paso's 7-0 loss at Memphis, Las Vegas (69-58) moved back atop the Pacific South Division, one-half game ahead of the Chihuahuas.

Taijeron opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning, and his solo shot in the fourth kicked off a four-run inning that put the 51s ahead to stay.

Taijeron and Brandon Allen hit consecutive solo shots in the fifth to cap the scoring. Taijeron has 23 homers this season and Allen 15.

Francisco Pena hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and added a double for Omaha (70-57), which was outhit 11-9.

Darrell Ceciliani went 3-for-4 with a two-out, two-run single in the fourth for Las Vegas.

51s starter Darin Gorski (9-8) gave up three runs on six hits and three walks and struck out three in six innings. Zach Thornton, Alex Torres and Chasen Bradford each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Las Vegas tagged Storm Chasers starter J.C. Sulbaran (2-1) for eight runs on 10 hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Orlando Calixte led off the third with a home run, and Whit Merrifield and Reymond Fuentes had two singles apiece for Omaha.