Mota bursts out of hitting slump to carry 51s past SkySox

Steve Addy

Monday, Aug. 6, 2001 | 10:14 a.m.

51s 8, Colo. Springs 5

Knuckleballer Dennis Springer (6-5) pitched seven serviceable innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, as Las Vegas split a four-game series against Colorado Springs.

Chris Donnels belted a two-run homer in the first inning, Angel Pena added a solo shot in the fifth and Keith Johnson supplied a three-run double in the sixth.

Las Vegas (56-60) remained 2 1/2 games behind Sacramento in the PCL South Division.

For the SkySox (52-61), Butch Huskey hit his 13th homer, his third of the series.

Tony Mota served as his own batting coach Sunday.

"Don't give up," he kept instructing himself. "Keep battling."

With only two hits in his previous 20 at-bats, the 51s outfielder had to remind himself not to quit on any at-bats despite falling behind in the count almost every time.

Especially with Las Vegas leadoff man Chris Prieto struggling in the four-game series against Colorado Springs, No. 2 hitter Mota knew it was crucial to fight and scratch to end his own slump.

The result of his fortitude was two singles, a walk and an RBI to help the 51s defeat the SkySox 8-5 before an announced 2,745 at Cashman Field.

Afterward, Mota wore one of the biggest smiles in the Las Vegas clubhouse, and it was much deserved. He was right in the middle of things when the 51s went ahead for good in the fifth and sixth innings.

By then, Mota was already feeling better about himself. In the first inning, he battled SkySox starter Robert Averette for a one-out walk after falling behind 0-2 in the count. With two out, he came home on Chris Donnels' long homer to left-center.

Mota struck out swinging in the third, but came through with two strikes again in the fifth inning with a single to left, scoring Bruce Aven for a 4-2 lead.

Then in the sixth, Mota singled to right with two out and four runs already in for the 51s. They didn't score again, but they didn't need anymore, and Mota was thrilled to contribute.

"The positive thing is I came back after getting into bad counts all day," he said. "You can't just give up, and I was able to hang in there and make contact.

"Lately, when I've hit it good, it's been right at somebody. And even when I haven't hit it good, it's still been right at somebody. So it felt good to get a couple to drop in. I saw a lot of positive things out there."

With Prieto going only 1-for-17 in the series, dropping his average to .291, manager Rick Sofield was thankful for Mota's assistance, as well as Keith Johnson's three-run double in the sixth. Johnson had been hitless in seven at-bats in the series.

"Tony had been struggling a little. We gave him the day off (Saturday), but we threw him back out there and he had a nice day at the plate," Sofield said. "And (Johnson) came up with a big hit in a one-out, bases-loaded scenario. We really needed that."

* NOTES: Dennis Springer's fifth-inning single was his first hit in 19 at-bats all season. ... In the sixth, SkySox first baseman Butch Huskey was ejected for arguing with first base umpire Ken Page. Teammates had to restrain Huskey. ... Donnels hit two homers in the series.

* UP NEXT: Tonight at Salt Lake at 6, the 51s will send righthander Ben Simon (2-4, 5.95) to the mound against Stingers righty Elvin Nina (9-9, 5.40). After the four-game series, the 51s come home Friday for four against first-place Sacramento.

Steve Addy

is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. Reach him at 259-4087 or by e-mail at addy@lasvegassun.com.