Ellis' eight RBIs fuel 51s' rout

If hitting is contagious, it reached epidemic proportions for the Las Vegas 51s at Tucson Electric Park.

Ellis hit a grand slam and doubled his previous career high with eight RBIs on Tuesday as the Las Vegas 51s tied a team record with 25 hits in a 23-2 dismantling of the Tucson Sidewinders.

Las Vegas scored in every inning but the seventh and ninth, although Ellis didn't join the hit parade until stroking an RBI single in the third. The 27-year-old catcher drilled a bases-loaded double an inning later to extend the lead to 16-0.

"It's nice to have those guys on base to drive in runs," he said. "You have to treat every at-bat the same, like it's a big-game situation."

With a run already home in the fifth and the bases loaded again, Ellis hit his first career Triple-A home run over the wall in right field.

"We came into town and had a good approach -- to put good swings on the ball, especially in a park like this," he explained. "It's a hitter's park. The whole league is hitter-friendly and this place is similar to ours in the way the ball will carry."

The eight RBIs fell two shy of the single-game team record, set by Eddie Williams on April 22, 1998, and eclipsed the season high of seven established when John Lindsey hit three homers against Portland on May 17.

Ellis wasn't the only member of the 51s who had a career night. Second baseman Sergio Garcia went 5-for-6 with a personal-best five RBIs for his second career five-hit game. Andy LaRoche went 3-for-7 and tied a career high with five RBIs while scoring four times. The 28-year-old first baseman, who made his Major League debut on May 6, 2007, also plated five runs for Class A Advanced Vero Beach on July 27, 2004.

Xavier Paul had three hits and scored three times and John-Ford Griffin went 3-for-4 with a pair of triples, three RBIs and four runs scored for Las Vegas (28-24). Angel Chavez reached base five times and scored five runs, while starting pitcher Jason Johnson singled twice and scored three times.

While the 23 runs eclipsed the team mark of 21 set against Edmonton on June 28, 1988, they were well shy of the 85-year-old Pacific Coast League record of 35, set by the Vernon Tigers.

"We definitely believe in the whole saying hitting is contagious. Everyone wanted to keep the rally going," said Ellis, adding that even though his team was on the winning side, fortunes can change quickly.

"You have to play the game professionally and play it the right way," he said. "You expect the other team to do the same. We could come out tomorrow and be on the other end of it, so you always want to play the game the right way."

Ironically enough, Ellis' counterpart on the Sidewinders, catcher Matt Morgan, pitched a scoreless ninth.

"We always talk in the dugout how the hardest thing is to hit off another position player. He did a good job, you have to give him credit," said Ellis, who has made five pitching appearances during his six-year Minor League career. "He showed guts for his team and saved the bullpen."

Johnson (7-2) won his seventh straight decision, allowing one run on four hits while striking out out four over five innings .

Tucson's Juan Gutierrez (1-9) surrendered 11 runs -- 10 earned -- on 10 hits and four walks with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. He has lost his last five starts and saw his ERA climb to 7.04.

Jesus Merchan went 3-for-4 and Major League veteran Trot Nixon chipped in two hits and a run scored for the Sidewinders (17-36).