51s battered by Golden Spikes

Monday, April 16, 2001 | 9:56 a.m.

OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha Golden Spikes will be sad to see the Las Vegas 51s' pitching staff leave town after tonight's series finale at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Golden Spikes (3-8), who hit just .202 during a disastrous 1-7 road trip through California to open the season, pounded out 10 more hits in a 7-2 victory over the 51s (4-7) on Sunday afternoon.

Omaha has scored seven runs in each of the first three games of the four-game series. The Golden Spikes have hit .327 over that span with five home runs, raising the team batting average 35 points to .237 in the process.

Joe Nunnally and Trenidad Hubbard both hit home runs for Omaha off Las Vegas starter Onan Masaoka (0-2), who left after allowing six hits and five runs in five innings.

Omaha starter Chad Durbin (1-2) limited Las Vegas to just five hits and two runs in seven innings to pick up his first victory of the season. Durbin,who allowed a solo home run to left fielder Tony Mota in the third, struck out eight and walked just one.

Masaoka, who has now allowed 12 earned runs in just 6 2/3 innings, was subbing for scheduled starter Carlos Perez who complained of shoulder stiffness.