Allen’s grand slam leads Stars to 4th straight victory

Matt O'Brien

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 | 9:31 a.m.

Though destined for the golf course when the regular season ends in early September, the Las Vegas Stars haven't packed up their bags and called it quits on the diamond yet. Tuesday night was proof of it.

In front of a moderate but enthusiastic crowd at Cashman Field, the Stars, propelled by a six-run seventh inning, rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Albuquerque Dukes 8-6.

The win, Las Vegas' fourth consecutive, improved the Stars to 63-73. The Dukes dropped to 64-69.

Both teams have been mathematically eliminated from the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

The big blow of the game was delivered by Las Vegas leftfielder Dusty Allen. With the bases loaded in the seventh, and the Stars trailing 6-4, Allen sent a Garvin Alston fastball screaming over the left-field fence.

The grand slam, the first of Allen's pro career, gave the Stars a two-run lead and proved to be the difference in the three-hour contest.

"I was trying to hit the ball to center field," said Allen of the home run, his 17th of the season. "I felt if I did that, we'd score at least one run and maybe get two if I drove it in a gap. Because I was trying to go to center, I was able to stay in front of the inside fastball and get good wood on it."

Las Vegas fell behind early in the contest. Converted starter Carlos Almanzar surrendered two home runs in the second inning, including a two-run inside-the-parker by Albuquerque second baseman Adam Riggs.

But the Stars responded in the fourth. After George Arias drew a lead-off walk, Gary Matthews Jr. blasted a two-run homer to left off Albuquerque starter Robbie Beckett to trim the lead to one.

The Dukes added a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings before Allen's grand slam swung the momentum.

"(Allen) has legitimate big league power," said Stars manager Mike Ramsey, whose club is a perfect 6-0 against Albuquerque this season. "Sometimes he takes too many pitches, so we're trying to get him to be a little more aggressive. Obviously, he came through with a big hit tonight."

Arias and David Newhan contributed an RBI apiece to the victory.

Matt Skrmetta, who replaced Almanzar to start the sixth, pitched two innings, surrendered two runs (one earned) and got the win. Will Cunnane, recently optioned to Las Vegas from San Diego, earned the save (his 10th as a Star).

"It was a good win," said Ramsey. "We were down three runs twice in the game and were able to come back. Again, you have to give Dusty credit. He came through for us."

* U-TURN: Despite his heroics Tuesday night, Allen edged closer to breaking a dubious record. His strikeout in the fourth inning, his second of the game, gave him 138 on the season. He is currently tied with Melvin Nieves, who fanned 138 times in 1994, for the Stars' single-season record.

* UP NEXT: The Stars continue their four-game series with the Dukes tonight at 7:05 p.m. Southpaw Shane Dennis (2-9, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to square off against Albuquerque's Ricky Stone (5-9, 5.54 ERA).