Travis Taijeron continues to swing hot bat in 51s’ rout of Aces
It’s time for the baseball world to start paying attention to Travis Taijeron.
The Las Vegas outfielder had a huge night at the plate, mashing a home run, a double and three RBIs to lift the 51s to a 9-1 victory over the Reno Aces on Thursday night at Cashman Field.
“When he gets hot, there’s not many people that get hotter than him,” 51s manager Wally Backman said. “He can carry a team, that’s the thing about him.”
The 51s started the onslaught in the second inning, jumping all over Reno starter Kyle Drabek. The inning began with a Johnny Monell single before Taijeron blasted Drabek’s 88 mph sinker over the wall for a 2-0 lead.
That wasn’t all for Las Vegas that inning. Four batters batters later and with two men in scoring position, Dilson Herrera sent a double over the center fielder’s head for two runs.
The third inning was just as unforgiving to Drabek as the second. After Eric Campbell led off with a triple, Taijeron got his second extra-base hit in two innings, doubling down the left-field line.
“That guy can swing it,” said 51s pitcher Logan Verrett, who started the game and threw six shutout innings. “He’s got unbelievable power, and he’s a great competitor.”
Taijeron has been on fire lately, with Thursday a continuation of a torrid hot streak. Over his past eight games, he has slashed .457/.486/.971 for an OPS of 1.457.
He finished the night 2-for-4. The homer was his 11th of the season, tying him with Marc Krauss for the team lead. He drove in his team-leading 55th RBI and scored his 47th run, second on the team. His 27 doubles lead the 51s.
“I feel pretty good at the plate, trying to do my thing pretty much,” Taijeron said. “Score runners when they’re on base, and it’s happening right now.”
The score was 5-0 after Taijeron’s double, but it was far from over. A walk, a double — the second of the night for Gavin Cecchini — and a fielder’s choice made the score 8-0 after four innings.
In a season that has gone as far as the offense would take it, Verrett strung together a solid outing to make it a well-rounded game for the 51s, something the manager could get used to seeing.
“It’s a nice game when you score runs like that and your pitchers keep putting up zeros,” Backman said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Verrett, in his first start at Triple A this season after making 19 appearances with the Mets (four starts), allowed two hits but walked five. He threw 88 pitches, 46 for strikes, and struck out two.
“I was fortunate to get a double play when I needed it, and the defense made some pretty clutch plays behind me,” Verrett said. “You almost feel like the strikeouts and walks should be switched, five and two. It is what it is, we’ll take it and work on it and try to get a little sharper next outing.”
Notes
• Catcher Travis d’Arnaud is expected to join the 51s on their trip to Salt Lake this weekend. On a rehab assignment with the Mets, the hope is for New York to activate him off the disabled list Tuesday. He last played for the 51s last season.
• The Mets recalled Ty Kelly on Wednesday, and he joined the team in New York. He has played 10 games in the majors this season.
• T.J. Rivera was placed on the disabled list Wednesday, and Niuman Romero was assigned to Las Vegas from Double-A Binghamton
• Backman was named the Pacific Coast League’s skipper for the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 13. Backman won the 2014 PCL Manager of the Year award, and this is his first time managing the All-Star Game. He becomes the third Las Vegas manager to manage it.
Up next
Who: Las Vegas 51s at Salt Lake Bees
When: 6:05 p.m. Friday
Where: Smith’s Ballpark
Starters: Duane Below (4-4, 3.51 ERA), 51s, vs Kyle Kendrick (4-2, 4.74 ERA)
Next five
Saturday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 5:35 p.m.
Sunday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 6:05 p.m.
Monday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 6:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Las Vegas at Reno, 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Las Vegas at Reno, 6:05 p.m.
Justin Emerson can be reached at jemerson@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @J15Emerson
