Ike Davis demoted from Mets to Las Vegas 51s, could play Monday at Cashman Field

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Sunday, June 9, 2013 | 5:06 p.m.

Brandon Hicks’ eighth-inning grand slam Sunday highlighted a five-run inning for the Las Vegas 51s in a 7-1 victory against Tacoma to complete the first leg of a home-and-home eight game series.

On Monday at Cashman Field, the teams begin the second leg when Las Vegas hosts four games to open an eight-game home stand. They split the four games at Tacoma.

Carlos Torres pitched his second straight complete game for Las Vegas, striking out four batters in a two-hit performance. On June 3, he yielded just three hits in a complete game shutout against Fresno.

Eric Campbell hit a home run for Las Vegas, which received three hits from Wilmer Flores to push his season average to .303. Brian Bixler went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Also Sunday, the New York Mets made several transactions with Triple-A Las Vegas, sending slumping first baseman Ike Davis to the Pacific Coast League.

Davis is batting just .161 with 66 strikeouts in 55 games. He has five home runs and 16 RBIs and is frequently booed by the hometown crowd at CitiField for his lack of production.

Davis’ batting average is the second worst in the National League among players with a qualifying average — something he’ll get to work on everyday in Las Vegas.

“Well at some point, you just have to say to yourself, this is not in his best interest,” Mets GM Sandy Alderson told the New York Daily News. “I am one of his biggest supporters. I just felt at some point we’ve gotta get him out of here. Hopefully he will be back in a short period of time.”

Outfielder Mike Baxter and lefty reliever Robert Carson also were sent to Las Vegas. First baseman Josh Satin, who is batting over .300 with the 51s, is headed to New York to take Davis’ spot.

On Saturday, the Mets promoted hot-hitting outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis from Las Vegas and designated Rick Ankiel for assignment.