51s rally in win

Steve Addy

Monday, June 17, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

In four starts, the hardest part of Lance Caraccioli's transition to triple-A baseball has been getting past the sixth inning. Otherwise, the 51s are quite satisfied with their new lefthander.

Caraccioli did not figure in the decision in Sunday's 8-6 victory over the Sacramento River Cats at Cashman Field, but he gave Las Vegas his fourth solid start since being called up from double-A Jacksonville on April 27.

Before wilting in the sixth inning, Caraccioli limited Sacramento to two hits and one unearned run, good for a 2-1 Las Vegas lead. He was replaced in the sixth after a leadoff walk and three straight hits put the River Cats ahead 4-2.

Caraccioli, 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA, has gone six innings twice and lasted into the sixth in his other two starts. He hasn't been overpowering, allowing 24 hits and eight earned runs in 22 2/3 innings, but he has quickly become a staple in the 51s' rotation.

In fact, climbing to triple-A appears to have taken no steam out of Caraccioli's season. At Jacksonville, he went 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA, including a 3-0 mark and 1.51 ERA in his last six starts. After 10 starts, he was averaging more than six innings and about five strikeouts.

Since being summoned to Las Vegas, the 24-year-old Louisiana native has shown veteran savvy, and a fine curveball. Playing winter ball in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic the last two years helped prepare him for triple-A hitters, explaining his fairly seamless acclimation.

"Every game I've had a pretty good outing until the sixth inning," Caraccioli said. "I think I've been exhausting myself by throwing so many pitches early in the game. I've been pitching from behind too much, and it's getting my pitch count up there.

"The biggest difference from double-A to triple-A is that the hitters are more disciplined. They're not going to give you that first strike by chasing a pitch out of the strike zone. So it's important to go right after them. That's something I need to fine-tune."

Caraccioli's pitch count was 100 when manager Brad Mills yanked him Sunday.

"I was hoping he could get out of the sixth inning, but he battled well," Mills said. "I like what he's shown, and there are a lot of things he's going to learn. It is only his first year in triple-A. I think he's got enough fastball to do well here and he has a good curveball."