51s' Arencibia reaches 30-homer mark

J.P. Arencibia's hard work has paid off for the Las Vegas 51s while bringing him one step closer to the big leagues.

Arencibia ended a five-game homer drought Friday night, smacking his Minor League-leading 30th of the season, as Las Vegas outslugged the Reno Aces, 12-9.

Selected 21st overall by the Blue Jays in the 2007 Draft, Arencibia got the 51s on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. He ripped a solo blast in the fourth before lifting another sac fly in a nine-run seventh.

The Triple-A All-Star had been struggling with just one homer in his previous 10 games. But he said that had nothing to do with being stuck on 29 for the season.

"It's just been not taking good swings," Arencibia explained. "I've been hitting line drives; the numbers haven't been there, but I've been having good at-bats."

Arencibia had been one of the Minors' hottest hitters for some two months. Since the beginning of June, the 24-year-old has 22 homers and 51 RBIs while batting .350.

The University of Tennessee broke a four-way tie for the Minor League home run lead with Dan Johnson of the Triple-A Durham Bulls, Jerry Sands of the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts and Paul Goldschmidt of the Class A Advanced Visalia Rawhide.

"It's cool," Arencibia said. "It's been a lot of work with our hitting coach, Chad Mattola, and getting consistent and getting a chance to succeed in every at-bat. If at the end of the season I'm leading the Minors or I'm promotion-worthy, then that's all. I'm just trying to get better every day."

Las Vegas broke open the game in the seventh. Trailing, 6-2, Adam Calderone laced a two-run triple and came home on Mike McCoy's base hit. Arencibia's second sacrifice fly tied the game big league veteran Jason Lane smacked a two-run double two batters later. Danny Perales and Aaron Mathews delivered RBI single to extend the lead before Perales raced home on a wild pitch.

Lane finished with three RBIs and has knocked in seven runs since joining the team on July 24. Mike Jacobs, acquired from the Mets earlier Friday, was 1-for-4 with two runs scored in his Las Vegas debut. Arencibia credited Jacobs, who essentially replaced Brett Wallace after the prospect was traded to Houston.

"Wallace is a great player and he's gonna play baseball for a long time," Arencibia said. "Anytime you lose a guy like that it's tough, but Mike came in today and did a great job."

Josh Roenicke (6-0) was credited with the win in relief, despite allowing two runs on three hits over two innings. Former Blue Jays closer Jeremy Accardo struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 20th save.