51s clinch outright PCL division title

Baseball can be a complicated game, but it isn't hard to understand one core principle: the more runs a team scores, the better its chances of winning. 

Triple-A Las Vegas has demonstrated that all season. With an 8-7, 11-inning victory over visiting New Orleans on Friday night, the Mets' top Minor League affiliate clinched outright its second straight Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division title.

Las Vegas has scored 81 more runs (811) than the next closest team (Reno, 730), and Friday's victory gave the 51s the league's best overall record at 75-60.

Daniel Muno sealed the clincher with a walk-off single, capping a 3-for-6 effort that came one night after he hit a grand slam and drove in five runs. His game-winning liner up the middle scored Mets No. 2 prospect Kevin Plawecki, who singled and drew three walks.

The 51s were in a 5-0 hole after the opening inning but battled back and took a 6-5 lead after the fifth. The Zephyrs tied it in the sixth and erased another Las Vegas lead in the eighth.

Matt Reynolds reached base six times for the 51s, going 4-for-4 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He also doubled and scored twice.

Noah Syndergaard, the Mets' top prospect, recovered from the rocky first inning. He was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and a walk while striking out eight over six frames.

Zack Cox was 3-for-6 with two RBIs and a run scored for New Orleans.

Las Vegas will face the winner of the Pacific Northern Division in the first round of the playoffs.