Rotation is doing its part for the 51s

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | 9:38 a.m.

Heath Totten threw more than 100 pitches Monday, giving up 12 hits and six runs after a shaky first inning and leaving the game with a 7-6 lead after the eighth inning.

And, in what's become almost a tradition in 51s losses, opposing batters mounted a comeback against relief pitchers to negate yet another great start by their Las Vegas teammates.

This time, it was the Fresno Grizzlies tying the game in the ninth inning before Dioner Navarro's 12th-inning single to right brought home Cody Ross to help the 51s escape with an 8-7 victory.

This year's starting pitching is a surprise to just about everyone, including 51s manager Jerry Royster.

"I thought starting pitching would be a little shaky," 51s manager Jerry Royster said. "They're coming through like gangbusters. They've had really good outings."

Not only has the 51s rotation been consistently good, it also has made improvements from last season. Totten went 8-11 last year with a 5.46 ERA at Triple-A. This year he's 4-1 with 4.81 ERA.

Totten recovered from a four-hit first inning to cruise through Monday's game. He said his goal this year has been to stay aggressive and focused.

"I've been real laid back the last couple years," he said. "This year I got my tempo back. I'm putting the ball in play, letting them hit it on the ground and let the defense do the work."

Jackson lacked consistency in 2004, going 6-4 with a 5.86 ERA. This season, he's 2-1 with a 4.87 ERA.

Las Vegas pitching coach Roger McDowell said in Jackson's case, the improvement is partially due to maturity.

"Probably the one thing that sticks out the most is he didn't have a memory bank to go through," McDowell said. "We lose sight of the fact that he's been pitching a short time. To go through struggles last year really probably was very good."

Jackson said that the success of others has prompted him and his teammates to try to pitch better themselves.

"If someone has a great outing, you want to follow that great outing with another," he said. "Pitching is always easier when you're not thinking about everything."

Eckert went 4-3 with a 6.35 ERA last season. Now he's 2-1 with a 6.65 ERA -- but has struck out nine batters while allowing five runs in his two starts.

"I feel pretty confident being a starter," he said. "It's great to be back out starting, setting up hitters and setting them up one, two or three times around."

For the rotation as a whole, the starting pitchers' numbers for 2005 become even more impressive without the first road trip. Take away games at Colorado Springs and Salt Lake, and 51s starters are 6-1 with a 3.53 ERA. That's an ERA nearly a full run lower than their overall combined average.

"We had a short minor league spring training this year," Royster said. "Our farm director was asking if it hurt our pitching. It might have as an organization, but it did not hurt ours."

Nobody had a shorter spring training than Pat Mahomes, whose one March start was near the end of spring training -- against the Las Vegas 51s.

Mahomes said in that game, which he pitched for the Mets' Triple-A club, he gave up one hit while striking out five in four innings.

A veteran major leaguer, Mahomes had a 1.84 ERA but just a 1-0 record to show for it.

"I knew what I needed to do," Mahomes said. "I made a good first impression."

Soon after he was signed by the Dodgers, Mahomes took Jackson under his wing. The two sat together Monday in the crowd of 2,567 at Cashman Field, charting pitches.

"I see a lot of me in him," Mahomes said. "I want to help him get to the next level, hopefully he'll not make the same mistakes I made. I'm ready to help guys as I can."