Crosby shines in first game back in outfield

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

Hot-hitting 51s outfielder Bubba Crosby returned to defensive duty last night after two weeks of pinch-hitting and filling the DH role because of a sore left shoulder. As a welcome-back gift, his teammates and the visiting Tacoma Rainiers treated him to a nearly four-hour, 14-inning game.

Crosby, who came into the game hitting .489, was 2-for-5 with a walk. In the eighth inning, he drove in Gookie Dawkins with a single to right, tying the game at 3-3.

Jason Romano's solo shot over the left-center wall off Rainiers reliever Allan Simpson won it for Las Vegas, 4-3.

"It wasn't the ideal game to come into," said Crosby, "but I'm glad we got a win out of it, and I'm glad I didn't have tomake many throws. That feels pretty good.

"I'll see how it is tomorrow, but I didn't feel much pain. I just felt real tired."

Manager John Shoemaker just felt real glad to have Crosby back.

"We figured today would be a good day to get him back in the lineup. (Trainer) Jason Mehnke said today would be a good day for him to play," Shoemaker said before the game. "We don't want him to sit out. We want him to play defense"

Monday night's first 10 innings were basically the Pat Borders show. Borders, 39, a former World Series MVP, signed with the Seattle Mariners two weeks ago and was assigned to Tacoma. He peppered 51s pitching for two singles, two doubles and a triple after already knocking a home run out of Cashman Field in each of the first two games of the series.

51s reliever Rodney Myers allowed two hits with four strikeouts to get his second victory of the year. The 51s' bullpen combined for 8 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing eight hits with 10 strikeouts. Tacoma reliever JJ Putz allowed the tying run in the eighth.

The 51s put nine runners on base after the eighth inning and twice loaded the bases, but could not bring in a runner.

"Almost every inning after regulation, we had people on base and had chances to score runs, and just didn't get the hit when we needed it," said Shoemaker. "Jason Romano-- just put a nice swing on it, didn't overswing, and the ball carried out of the ballpark."

"All you can do is just battle," said an iced-up Crosby. "It's hard enough to hit a baseball when the score's tied and everybody on both teams is physically tired, mentally tired. It makes things that much more difficult to get guys on."