Las Vegas Stars scoreboard — May 18, 1998

Monday, May 18, 1998 | 11 a.m.

Despite his woeful .144 batting average at Las Vegas this year, Ruben Rivera is making San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers look like a genius for promoting him to the big leagues on Saturday. Rivera, an emergency outfield replacement when James Mouton went on the 15-day disabled list and Tony Gwynn tweaked his knee, scored the game-tying run in the Padres' 3-2 win over Philadelphia on Saturday night and also threw out a runner at the plate. On Sunday he scored a run as a pinch-runner as another ex-Star, pitcher Donne Wall (1-1), outpitched Curt Schilling in a 3-1 Padres' win. "I think this is going to be good," Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune of Rivera's promotion. "I think he might be a different player than when he was in Las Vegas. He was depressed when we sent him out." ... Rivera actually flew to San Diego Saturday afternoon before officially being recalled. When the decision was made to put Mouton on the DL, he was activated just hours before gametime. "I think he was kind of shocked," Stars manager Jerry Royster said when asked how Rivera took the news of his promotion. "They needed a defensive outfielder. He's by far the best in our organization at that." ... The Stars figure to get a player back from the Padres today or Tuesday. That's when third baseman Ken Caminiti comes off the disabled list. ... How bad are things going for the Stars offensively since Eddie Williams was promoted to San Diego? In Sunday's 5-2 win over Vancouver, Canadians' starting pitcher William VanLandingham walked 11 batters and uncorked two wild pitches in just four-plus innings on the mound. Still, Las Vegas could manage just two runs against VanLandingham. "Pathetic," Royster said. "There's an old saying that a victory is a victory. That's B.S. We played a horrible baseball game." George Arias hit a three-run homer in the eighth to win it for Las Vegas. ... The victory, combined with Fresno's 13-3 win over Tucson, meant the Stars moved within three percentage points of the first place Grizzlies in the Pacific Coast League's South Division.

Upcoming games

The Stars continue their series with Vancouver with a 7 p.m. game tonight at Cashman Field. Right-hander Kevin Lomon (0-3, 4.81) will start for the Stars against Vancouver left-hander Scott Schoeneweis (2-3, 7.02). The series with the Canadians continues on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Right-hander Matt Clement (4-3, 2.77) will start for the Stars against left-hander Jarrod Washburn (2-0, 4.18). Right-hander Brad Kaufman (1-2, 3.48) starts the home stand finale on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against Vancouver left-hander Trevor Wilson (0-5, 5.80).

Attendance

Sunday's crowd: 5,944.

Season total: 83,011 (20 dates).

Average per date: 4,150.