Shocker! Las Vegas posts another shutout at home

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, June 6, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

Isn't Cashman Field supposed to be a hitter's park?

You certainly would have a hard time telling during the last few days.

For the third time in their last four games, the Las Vegas 51s shut out an opponent, this time a 2-0 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Tuesday night.

Left-handers Victor Alvarez (2-1) and Onan Masaoka and closer Jim Dougherty combined to five-hit the Cubs (29-29) just one night after knuckleballer Dennis Springer one-hit the Omaha Golden Spikes.

Las Vegas pitchers have thrown 21 consecutive scoreless innings going back to the fifth inning of Sunday's 5-4 loss to Omaha in the second game of a doubleheader. The 51s blanked the Golden Spikes, 2-0, in the first game behind the pitching of lefty Eddie Priest, Al Reyes and Kris Foster.

That's three shutouts in their last four games for the 51s' pitching staff. There have been seasons that Las Vegas hasn't been able to register that many shutouts, much less in one homestand.

"When it rains it pours," Las Vegas manager Rick Sofield said. "Guys have started to feed off each other because of their success."

Lefty Jeff Williams (4-3, 5.30) will try to keep the shutout string alive tonight when Las Vegas (27-33) continues its series against the Cubs at 7:10 p.m. at Cashman Field.

Reuss still maintains a home in Las Vegas and his son played at UNLV this past season.

"This is fun," Reuss said. "It's a big difference between doing this and broadcasting. The main difference is that when you're broadcasting you are on the outside looking in. As a coach, I'm on the inside looking out. Instead of commenting on change, I'm effecting change."

Reuss was a double-A pitching coach in the Montreal organization last year and also coached in the Arizona Fall League.

So does Reuss have any interest in the now vacant UNLV head coaching position?

"Nah, I'm right where I want to be in that regard," he said.

Ashby, who last pitched in a game on April 12 because of a strained right elbow, wanted to pitch against the Diamondbacks this week despite experiencing some stiffness in his last bullpen stint.

"I was trying to talk them into activating me and letting me start (Tuesday night)," Ashby said. "I've thought about it. I think the concern is about getting into a game situation and not really knowing how it's going to be. I think that's part of the concern as to why I should do a rehab start. The way my control and stuff has been, I don't think I would be a problem if I didn't go on a rehab start."

The plan was originally for Ashby to make a couple of rehab starts with the 51s before being activated. However, that may change now after ace Kevin Brown went on the disabled list with an irritated nerve in his neck on Monday.

"I definitely want to get back earlier, knowing the situation with Brownie and stuff," Ashby said.