Simon says: Las Vegas keeps winning in PCL

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Aug. 2, 2002 | 10:59 a.m.

With Kevin Brown's Las Vegas start fast approaching, the 51s roughed up another major league veteran Thursday night at Cashman Field.

The hosts tagged Memphis starter Darren Oliver -- a member of the Boston Red Sox's rotation earlier this season -- for five runs en route to a 10-2 win over the Memphis Redbirds.

Oliver, released by Boston this year and signed by St. Louis July 18, has pitched in 246 major league games for the Rangers, Cardinals and Red Sox since 1993. Thursday, the 51s chased him with four fourth-inning runs, the big blow Joe Thurston's two-out, two-run single.

Las Vegas starter Ben Simon (2-0) worked six effective innings for a team that has seen its pitching staff drastically affected by recent Dodgers trades and call-ups. Simon yielded just one run on four hits, striking out three and walking two.

"With all the moves we've had, with guys going up and down, that was huge for us," 51s manager Brad Mills said of Simon's performance.

Luke Allen went 4-for-4, and Thurston, Phil Hiatt, David Ross and pinch-hitter Tommy Davis drove in two runs apiece to lead the charge offensively.

The first-place 51s (66-46) have won 14 of their last 18 games, and will get an injury rehab start from Brown on Saturday night. The Dodgers' ace has been on the disabled list since May 27, undergoing back surgery in early June.

Brown is expected to throw around 50 pitches for Las Vegas.

"(A rehab start) is what we do and what we're here for," Mills said. "It's a benefit of being so close to the parent club and having good weather. And we should have a good atmosphere out here (Saturday)."