Stars squander away lead, fall 20-15 to Tucson squad

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 | 9:50 a.m.

TUCSON -- Las Vegas Stars right-hander Matt Whiteside was named the Pacific Coast League's Pitcher of the Week by Howe Sportsdata on Monday for his three-hit shutout of Vancouver last Thursday.

Don't hold your breath waiting for another Las Vegas pitcher to win that honor.

The travel-weary Stars, who had to report to McCarren International Airport at 5:15 a.m. Monday for a flight that oddly took them to San Diego first instead of directly to Tucson, ran out of gas and pitching at Tucson Electric Stadium in a 20-15 loss on Monday night.

The Stars (31-28), who led 10-3 after four innings and 15-9 after six innings, allowed nine runs in the bottom of the eighth to the Sidewinders (25-32).

Counting Sunday's 22-2 debacle against Vancouver at Cashman Field, Stars pitchers have allowed an amazing 42 runs and 48 hits in their past two games, numbers that would make even your average Little League manager cringe.

Whiteside, who inherited the 10-3 lead in the fifth for starter Shane Dennis, was roughed up for nine hits and seven runs in just two innings.

Meanwhile, the two leading candidates to assume the closer role vacated by recently promoted Will Cunnane -- Carlos Almanazar and Brandon Kolb -- combined to give up nine runs on eight hits in the Tucson eighth while failing to hold onto a 15-11 lead.

Center fielder Jason Conti hit a grand slam off Almanzar to highlight the Sidewinder comeback, which also included a three-run double by leftfielder Keith Johnson off Almanzar.

Chris Prieto and Carlos Garcia homered for Las Vegas and Dusty Allen and Juan Melo each had two doubles in the contest.

The series continues tonight at 7:35 with right-hander Bryan Wolff (5-4, 4.02) opposing Tucson right-hander Vicente Padilla (1-1, 3.00).