51s take Express lane to second place

Nick Christensen

Friday, May 27, 2005 | 9:34 a.m.

Tucson Electric Park 6:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, 6 p.m. Sunday Radio: all games on 1460-AM

Probable Starters

T.J. Nall had his best game of the season, giving up one unearned run and three hits in six innings while striking out five batters as the Las Vegas 51s defeated Round Rock 7-2 before a crowd of 4,027 at Cashman Field Thursday.

The win gave the 51s (24-22) their second series sweep of the season, and their longest win streak of 2005 at five games.

Nall entered the game with a 9.82 ERA, and had not given up less than four runs in any of his starts this season. His ERA dropped to 8.15.

"I threw the ball pretty well in spring training, I got here and I tried to do a little too much with it," Nall said. "We changed a little something mechanically in the last bullpen."

The 51s held the Express (25-23) to 10 runs in four games.

"I pull from everybody on the staff," Nall said. "Everyone was throwing the ball pretty well except for me. I took bits and pieces from everybody on the staff, try to piece it together and it call came together for me."

Alfredo Gonzales got his second save of the year, allowing three hits in three innings of relief.

Offensively, the 51s entered the game with a formidable lineup. Jason Repko made his 2005 51s debut after starting the season with Los Angeles, and went 3-for-5 with two runs leading off. Nick Theodorou went 2-for-4 with three runs and a home run batting second, and rehabbing Dodgers outfielder Jason Grabowski was 2-for-2 in the third spot. Norihiro Nakamura was 3-for-5 batting fourth.

"We've got a bunch of guys doing what they're capable of doing," 51s manager Jerry Royster said. "We've got a lot fo help from (Jayson) Werth to Grabowski to Nakamura and Repko and our guys working to work their way back to the big leagues."

The 51s are a game behind Tucson in the Southern Division of the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Conference. The team begins a four-game series at the Sidewinders tonight before returning home for an eight-game homestand at Cashman Field.