Thompson strong in debut with 51s

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 | 9:22 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Las Vegas 51s scored four runs in the third and three in the seventh in an 8-3 win against the Tucson Sidewinders on Monday at Tucson Electric Park.

Las Vegas ended its six-game losing streak as its pitchers kept the Sidewinders' sluggers in check.

Starter Derek Thompson pitched well in his first Triple-A start, earning the win while giving up three runs in five innings of work, and the bullpen held the Sidewinders scoreless the rest of the way as the 51s won their fifth game in their last 26 chances.

Relievers Alfredo Gonzalez and Steve Schmoll each pitched two scoreless innings. Schmoll struck out four of the six batters he faced.

Chin-Feng Chen belted a three-run home run for the 51s in the third, and finished the game with four RBIs on 2-for-5 hitting.

Norihiro Nakamura, Willy Aybar and Brian Myrow all had two hits for the 51s, part of a 10-hit attack.

Tucson starter Mike Gosling was touched for four runs on five hits in six innings. Gosling (3-5) walked four and struck out six. Reliever Elvin Nina coughed up four runs in two innings. Brian Barden went 3-for-3 and scored a run for the Sidewinders. The third baseman is 9-for-13 in his last three games. Josh Kroeger was 2-for-4 with an RBI.