The Fresno Tacos (69-54) dropped the series opener against the Las Vegas 51s (47-76) by a score of 6-5 on Taco Tuesday at Chukchansi Park. It was the first of four in the final series meeting of the season between the clubs. Frenso moved to 16-10 overall in one-run games
The Fresno Tacos (69-54) dropped the series opener against the Las Vegas 51s (47-76) by a score of 6-5 on Taco Tuesday at Chukchansi Park. It was the first of four in the final series meeting of the season between the clubs. Frenso moved to 16-10 overall in one-run games this season with the loss. With the Reno Aces losing as well, Fresno remains tied for first in the Pacific North Division.
The Tacos were on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third. Alejandro Garcia had walked to get on before scoring when Tony Kemp reached on an error. The 51s tied the contest in the fourth when Josh Rodriguez walked with the bases loaded. Then, Las Vegas took a 5-1 lead on a Xorge Carrillo (2-for-4) grand slam to left. It was his eighth home run of the season.
Fresno manager Tony DeFrancesco shared words with the umpires in the middle of the fourth inning before he was ejected from the contest. Following that, A.J. Reed crushed his 26th homer of the season to right. The solo shot cut the Las Vegas lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth.
The Tacos got within one in the fifth when they made the score 5-4. Preston Tucker recorded his team-leading 85th RBI with a sacrifice fly that scored Garrett Stubbs (walk) before a Jack Mayfield (2-for-4) RBI double drove home Tyler White (single, 2-for-4). Fresno tied the contest 5-5 in the sixth when a Kemp RBI single scored Colin Walsh who also singled to get on.
Las Vegas went ahead 6-5 in the top of the seventh when a Matt Reynolds (2-for-4) RBI single scored Gavin Cecchini (2-for-5) who tripled to get on. 51s starter Donovan Hand allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts through five innings. Kyle Regnault (4-0) earned the win through three innings of relief and reliever Jamie Callahan picked up his first save of the season with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Right-hander Cy Sneed tossed 88 pitches through five innings in his Triple-A debut for Fresno. He received a no decision allowing five runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Reliever Reymin Guduan (5-5) suffered the loss allowing the winning run on three hits in the seventh. The Fresno pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts in the contest, one shy of the season-high.
The four-game series continues on Wednesday with game two at 7:05 p.m. Probable starters are RHP Wilfredo Boscan (4-11, 5.42) for Las Vegas and RHP Mike Hauschild (6-2, 4.84) for Fresno.
