51s’ Mills hospitalized with chest pains

Steve Addy

Wednesday, May 1, 2002 | 10:43 a.m.

51s manager Brad Mills underwent tests today to determine the cause of chest pains that led to his hospitalization during a 12-11 loss to Colorado Springs at Cashman Field on Tuesday night.

Mills, 44, remained in Mountain View Hospital today after being rushed there by 51s trainer Jason Mahnke around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, while Colorado Springs was batting in the seventh inning. Mills experienced pain in the dugout, but did not lose consciousness.

L.A. Dodgers player development director Bill Bavasi said Mills was hospitalized as "a precautionary measure," and a 51s spokesperson said today that Mills was resting comfortably. He was scheduled for various heart tests and was expected to miss the team's 12:30 p.m. game today against the Sky Sox.

In Mills' first season as manager, the 51s have climbed to the top of the Pacific Coast League with a 16-10 record, despite back-to-back one-run losses to Colorado Springs in which Las Vegas scored 27 runs. Mills was hired Jan. 22 to replace Rick Sofield, who spent one year as the 51s' manager.

Mills' absence occurred without fanfare, and it probably wasn't apparent to the announced crowd of 1,704 until the bottom of the seventh inning when hitting coach Ron Jackson took Mills' spot in the third base coaching box. Jackson said he would likely manage the team today.

"I probably will, but nothing's been decided until we find out more about (Mills' condition)," Jackson said. "Let's not jump the gun. Everyone here loves Brad and we're all hoping he's going to be all right."

"Hopefully (Mills) is being taken care of," 51s third baseman Rick Bell said. "We've got to be ready to play even if he's not here."

Before Mills left, the 51s had given up five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to trail 11-7 after having led 4-1 entering the fifth. Mills went to the mound with one out in the sixth to remove starter Dennis Springer, who had allowed hits to the first seven Sky Sox batters in the inning.

Though Springer was clearly struggling -- he allowed 16 hits and 11 runs -- the 51s needed the knuckleballer to pitch as long as possible because their bullpen was overworked in Monday's 17-16 14-inning loss to Colorado Springs. Five Las Vegas relievers pitched the final 11 innings Monday.

While the Sky Sox slammed Springer for five runs on four hits in the fifth inning, no one warmed up in the bullpen. In the sixth, no one warmed up until the first five Sky Sox reached base. After finally retiring pitcher Victor Santos -- who bunted foul with two strikes -- Springer was relieved by Craig House.

In baseball parlance, Springer took one for the team. He received an appreciative nod from Mills as he walked off the mound.

"He sucked it up for the team," Jackson said of Springer. "We battled back, and it's too bad we couldn't win it."

The 51s tied it 11-11 on David Ross' two-run single in the seventh and sacrifice flies by Brad Tyler and Chin-Feng Chen in the eighth. But Ross Gload's one-out homer in the ninth off Jeff Williams (2-2) provided the winning run for Colorado Springs (13-11).

All nine Sky Sox starters had at least one RBI, and Scott Servais had three. Las Vegas got home runs by Mike Kinkade (his fourth) and Joe Thurston (fifth).