51s tie franchise record for wins

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.

"Somebody got-ta pay."

That's the motto inscribed on the new 51s batting practice shirts given to the team by hitting coach Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson.

Wednesday night at Cashman Field it was the Nashville Sounds who paid with a third consecutive loss.

The 51s blew a seven-run lead but battled on for a 8-7 win, tying the franchise record of 83 wins set in the inaugural 1983 season.

"Every record is pretty important to a team," said 51s closer Jeff Williams, who picked up his PCL-leading 28th save. "Team records are ones we do talk about.

"Breaking the record is definitely something we would be proud of."

While the 51s clinched the South Division title Aug. 20 for a spot in the Pacific Coast League playoffs, the Sounds trail East Division leader New Orleans by 2 1/2 games with five remaining.

But the 51s do not intend to help Nashville get any closer.

"We're not going to let up now," Jackson said. "If we get beat, we get beat. But we're not going to give anything away.

"You've got to keep that winning edge going into the playoffs. Plus, (manager) Brad (Mills) is very intense. He loves to win. If he sees somebody lagging, he's going to let them know they need to pick it up."

That's what Mills did after the 51s lost two straight at Tucson after securing the division title.

He figured the team would have a letdown so he gathered his coaching staff to discuss the issue.

"They had the first few days after we clinched in Tucson to kind of enjoy it," Mills said. "It was fine. I didn't have a problem with it.

"I said to the coaches that it will deteriorate for a period of time, but just to keep track of what was deteriorating. Eventually, it was addressed."

Since the two losses at Tucson, the 51s are 5-1.

"We were excited we won (the division)," infielder Chris Clapinski said. "We might have lost focus, but I don't think we had a bit of a letdown.

"I think we're looking at these games as a possible match-up in the championships against Nashville. We want to establish ourselves right now."

The team's identity was formed after a close early season loss.

Jackson told the team "Somebody's got-ta pay," and it stuck.

"Now if somebody didn't get a hit the night before, he'll say it or if we didn't win, guys will say it," Jackson said. "It's positive motivation."

Thurston leads all of professional baseball in hits.

"It's outstanding," Mills said. "Getting 200 hits at the big league level is an incredible bench mark. Getting 200 hits in just 144 games is even more remarkable. You just don't see that every day."