Wild 51s win features a cycle, game-winning grand slam

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, April 25, 2010 | 8:16 p.m.

Baseball teams can go weeks without experiencing the excitement the Las Vegas 51s enjoyed in one game Sunday afternoon.

Las Vegas second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats and Brian Dopirak pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs to deliver a walk-off grand slam.

The 51s, with half of their roster battling the stomach flu, also managed to blow a six-run lead before coming out with a marathon 14-11 victory against the Sacramento River Cats at Cashman Field.

“We scored two touchdowns and they scored a touchdown and a field goal,” 51s Manager Dan Rohn said. “It was a game of attrition on both sides.”

The win snapped a two-game losing steak for the 51s and improved their record to 10-8. Las Vegas is currently one game behind the Fresno Grizzlies in the Pacific Coast League’s south division.

The 51s are trying to make the playoffs this season for the first time in eight years. Although the year has barely begun, the first three weeks indicate that Las Vegas has the talent to do it.

“It’s nice to get back going in the right direction,” Rohn said. “It’s nice to get the offense to jump out.”

The 51s scored Sunday in every inning except the eighth. It all started when Hoffpauir blasted a homerun over the left field wall in the second inning.

He just missed another homerun in the third inning and settled for a double off the wall. In the fourth inning, Hoffpauir tripled down the right field line.

“I figured I had two at-bats left to hopefully get it done,” Hoffpauir said.

He didn’t leave much suspense. Hoffpauir singled to left field on the first pitch when he came up again in the sixth inning.

He said it was the first cycle of his career at any level. A Las Vegas player had not hit for the cycle since Cody Ross, currently in the majors with the Florida Marlins, achieved the rare feat in 2005.

“The main thing was to win the ballgame,” Hoffpauir said. “Just to put icing on the cake, I pulled it off. It was awesome.”

Despite a season-high in runs and hits, the 51s trailed 11-10 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Sacramento pitcher Mike Benacka recorded two outs before walking two batters to load the bases for Dopirak.

Dopirak said he was motivated not to let Las Vegas lose on the day a teammate hit for the cycle. He needed all the help he could get.

Dopirak suffered perhaps more than any other player from the stomach flu going around. He said he could barely walk without needing to vomit over the last three days.

Dopirak tried to relax and wait for his pitch in the batter’s box. It came when Benacka lobbed a change-up that Dopirak hit over the left field fence.

“If I think too much, I probably end up doing something I don’t want to do,” Dopirak said. “So, I tried to keep it simple and just hit the ball hard.”

The 51s swarmed Dopirak when he crossed home plate. It was the first time he had ever hit a walk off grand slam.

“This is something I’ll always remember,” Dopirak said. “It’s a great feeling.”