51s charge into PCL division lead with another win

Steve Addy

Wednesday, April 24, 2002 | 9:36 a.m.

The 51s have charged to the front of the 16-team Pacific Coast League, and their performance Tuesday night was especially befitting their new status.

This time, it wasn't only their hitting, which has sustained them through their first 20 games. Their fielding was suberb and they got strong pitching from fill-in starter Ben Simon, all part of their sixth straight victory, 10-2 over the Tacoma Rainiers before 1,872 at Cashman Field.

By completing a four-game sweep of the Rainiers, the 51s climbed to 13-7, a game ahead of Omaha and Southern Division rival Fresno (both 12-8). Granted, there's no trophy for leading the PCL in April, but success has been so rare for Las Vegas' baseball franchise in the past decade that any lead, anytime, is a promising development.

The 51s scored 10 runs for the second straight night, and they lead the league with 124, but unlike Monday's 10-9 comeback win, the rest of their game was equally worthy of mention.

After committing three errors Monday, Las Vegas played flawlessly in the field and turned three sharp double plays in the first five innings. The first-inning DP was crucial, because Simon had allowed three singles and a run before retiring anyone, but he avoided further damage.

"(Our fielding) was something I was really pleased with," manager Brad Mills said. "Our outfielders hit the cutoff man when they had to and every infielder made a great play. When we're playing defense like that, it gives our pitchers confidence."

Simon's six-inning outing was a prime example of that. He seemed buoyed by his first-inning reprieve, scattering only three hits thereafter and facing the minimum 15 batters aside from Rob Gandolfo's homer leading off the third. Double plays in the fourth and fifth helped out.

Simon's effort was much-needed, not only because scheduled starter Stan Spencer is on the disabled list with a groin pull, but because starting pitching has been the 51s' bugaboo. Entering the game, Las Vegas starters had a 3-5 record and a combined 6.42 ERA, having allowed 68 earned runs in 95 1/3 innings.

The 51s' hitting (league-leading .301) and relief pitching (9-2, five saves) have bailed them out many times, but for the club to remain a PCL contender, more outings like Simon's will be required of regular starters Mike Johnson, Dennis Springer, Robert Ellis and Kevin Beirne.

"Simon gave us exactly what we needed," Mills said. "I have felt starting pitching would be one of our strengths, and I still think that will be the case. We have had some guys have better outings lately -- Beirne, Johnson -- so I think we're turning that around."

Mills wouldn't immediately commit to a second start for Simon, who entered with a 1.38 ERA in six relief appearances. It will depend on Spencer's recovery and the other starters' performance, Mills said.

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