Springer gets battered in his return to Fresno

Thursday, May 31, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

FRESNO, Calif. -- This is not the kind of homecoming that Las Vegas 51s pitcher Dennis Springer had in mind.

The 36-year-old knuckleballer, a Fresno-area native who starred at Fresno State University before going on to a successful major league career, was hammered for 13 hits and eight runs in just 5 1/3 innings and picked up the loss as the sputtering 51s (22-31) dropped their fifth straight game, 12-5, on Wednesday night at Beiden Field.

Springer allowed five runs in the bottom of the first, all coming with two outs. Red-hot third baseman Tony Zuniga, who is now 6-for-6 with four RBIs in the series, capped the uprising with a three-run homer to left.

Former Las Vegas Star Juan Melo continued to haunt his old franchise, going 4-for-5 with a double, triple and three RBIs.

Rick Sofield's squad, in dire need of a spark, will have a few new faces on the roster when it returns home to Cashman Field on Friday night to host Omaha.

Infielder Chris Donnels is set to begin a injury rehab assignment with the squad starting tonight. The left-handed hitting Donnels was hitting just .150 in 30 games with the Dodgers before going on the disabled list on May 21 with a right lumbar sprain.

Meanwhile, outfielder Brent Cookson, expected to be a key performer for Las Vegas this season, rejoined the team Wednesday night after going through an injury rehab stint at extended spring training in Vero Beach, Fla. Cookson had been sidelined since April 23 with knee and finger injuries.

Another newcomer is right-handed reliever Matt Montgomery, who also was at extended spring training after battling shoulder problems. The former Long Beach State star played briefly at triple-A Albuquerque last season and was 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in seven games.

To make room for Montgomery on the 23-man roster, the 51s placed right-hander Chad Ricketts on the seven-day disabled list.

The 51s conclude their road trip tonight at 7:05 with lefty Victor Alvarez (1-1, 5.27) going against Fresno right-hander Ryan Jansen (3-0, 1.62).