51s bullpen falters in 10-inning loss to Portland

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

Bubba Crosby was 4-for-5 and a home run away from hitting for the cycle, but the struggling 51s bullpen gave up a 6-4 loss in 10 innings to the Portland Beavers Monday in a Pacific Coast League game at Cashman Field.

The 51s had good chances to win in both the eighth and ninth innings. Tied 4-4 in the eighth, Bubba Crosby was tagged out at the plate, and later in that inning, the 51s left runners stranded at second and third. In the ninth, Eric Riggs was tagged at the plate after Joe Thurston's sacrifice fly attempt was hit too shallow in the outfield. And in the 10th, Crosby was left stranded at first.

"Today was a tough one, because we did have opportunities to win," said 51s manager John Shoemaker. "Today was a game that happens often to teams, sometimes you get situational at-bats, runners on the bases with less than two outs, and you just can't deliver. If it were that easy, everyone would deliver."

Victor Alvarez made the start for Las Vegas -- scheduled starter Tony McKnight was placed on the disabled list Monday morning -- and pitched a solid five innings, allowing only four hits and two runs, one unearned. Scott Proctor, called up from Jacksonville to fill in for McKnight, pitched another two scoreless innings. But Brian Corey allowed Portland two runs to tie, and the struggling Scott Winchester gave up two more runs in the 10th.

Since 51s closer Steve Colyer was called up to Los Angeles, the 51s are 4-8. The bullpen was responsible for half those losses.

"Baseball is a game of adjustments. As we continue playing, and we play the same teams for the second or third time, everybody's going to have to be able to make an adjustment," said Shoemaker. "Late in the games, we're not executing as well as we were executing early in the season."

The Las Vegas bullpen ERA has risen from 1.94 when Colyer was called up to 2.54. Meanwhile, the Dodgers haven't used Colyer in their 10-game winning streak, during which Dodgers starters are averaging 7.1 innings a game.