51s Explode for Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back Homeruns in the 4th, Win Big

Las Vegas 51s @ Salt Lake Bees

May 8, 2014

Logan Verrett @ Jose Alvarez

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E	LOB
Las Vegas	1	0	0	5	1	2	0	6	1		16	21	0	10
Salt Lake	1	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0		4	13	1	9

MiLB.com boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Logan Verrett – 5 IP, 10 H, 4 R, BB, 4 SO, 93 pitches, 61 strikes (66%), 26 batters faced, 6 groundouts, 5 fly outs

Ryan Reid – 3 IP, 2 H, 28 pitches, 19 strikes, 10 batters faced, 7 groundouts, 1 fly out

Batters

Eric Campbell – 3-4, 3 R, 2 2B (15), BB, GIDP

Andrew Brown – 3-4, 5 R, 2 RBI (14), 2 BB, HR (5)

Zach Lutz – 3-5, 2 R, 5 RBI (26), BB, HR (5), SO

Taylor Teagarden – 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI (18), BB, HR (8), SO

Brandon Allen – 5-6, 2 R, 2 RBI (5), HR (2)

Taylor Lindsey – 2-5, R, SO

Efren Navarro – 2-5, R, SO

Brennan Boesch – 3-3, 2 R, RBI (13), BB, 2B (4)

John Hester – 2-4, 2 RBI (7)

Play By Play

Recap:

            The story of this game will always be that the Las Vegas 51s hit four consecutive homeruns in the 4^th inning – Allen Dykstra hit the first one to RF, followed by Zach Lutz and Taylor Teagarden to straightaway CF, before Brandon Allen made history with another homerun to RF (one of five hits for Allen on the night). Bees starter Jose Alvarez would actually stick around long enough to give up another HR in the 5^th, a bomb to Andrew Brown. The offense was more than enough for Logan Verrett, who still was not able to give the 51s the deep outing their bullpen likely needed, becoming the second straight 51s starter to give up ten hits over five innings.

           

After both teams scored a run in the 1^st inning, the Bees would take the lead after Brennan Boesch started a two-out rally with a double into the left-center field gap - Boesch was the Bees best hitter on the night, as 51s pitching could not get him out in four trips to the plate. The 51s would add the six runs mentioned over the next two innings, but the Bees managed to get two runs back in the bottom of the 5^th. After getting the leadoff hitter to groundout to Lutz, Verrett would allow the next four batters to reach base (three singles and a walk) and then give up a sac fly before retiring the side. Overall, it was not the best performance from Verrett, especially results-wise, as he was unable to replicate his groundball success from his last start. Fortunately for the 51s, this game did not become a back-and-forth offensive affair thanks to Ryan Reid’s excellent work during the 6^th-8^th innings. He hasn’t pitched that often so far for Vegas, but he likely earned himself some more opportunities with his performance against the Bees.

            The 51s would tack on seven combined runs in the 8^th and 9^th innings, sending eleven men to the plate in the 8^th and facing OF Drew Heid in the 9^th. The 8^th inning was a disaster for Bees reliever Robert Carson, who retired only one of six batters, and walked the last four to face him. It was pretty exciting to see Allen come to the plate in the 9^th with a chance for his 6^th hit (not much else excitement in the 9^th inning of a 16-4 game), and he gave the ball a ride, but it was to straightaway CF, which is 420 feet away. As an aside, these PCL parks all have very deep CF walls.

            The series wraps up Friday night at 8:35 PM ET, with Rafael Montero on the hill for the 51s opposite Wade LeBlanc. Montero has only gone six innings in three of his seven starts this season, and not since April 24 against Tacoma. LeBlanc has given up 10 ER and 17 H in his last 13.2 IP, which is not a good sign with him about to face the PCL’s best offense. The 51s have a chance at the sweep and send their opening day starter to the hill!

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— Dr.Michael Reidinger (@scimichael) May 5, 2014