Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

las vegas 51s:

51s grab playoff opener on game-winner from son of Mets legend

L.J. Mazzilli’s dad, Lee, was on the Mets’ 1986 World Series champion team

Welcome to Las Vegas, L.J.

Making his debut today with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, L.J. Mazzilli’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Cory Vaughn to give the 51s a come-from-behind 5-4 victory against the visiting Reno Aces in the first of a five-game PCL Conference Championship Series.

The 51s, who had the best regular season record in the 16-team league, trailed 3-0 until Vaughn led off the fifth inning with a solo home run. Later in the frame, Cesar Puello singled to score Daniel Muno to cut the 51s' deficit to one run.

Kevin Plawecki hit a solo home run to open the sixth inning to tie the game and Brandon Allen added an RBI single in the seventh to give Las Vegas a 4-3 lead. Reno, though, evened the game at four in the top of the eighth.

The game didn’t stay tied for long.

Vaughn was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth and advanced to second on a groundout by Muno. Mazzilli, who was promoted from High-A Lucie, followed with a ground ball single to left field to score Vaughn with the winning run. He's the son of New York Mets legend Lee Mazzilli, who helped them win the 1986 World Series. The Mets are the parent club of the 51s.

Gonzalez Germen pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Las Vegas to record the save, giving them a 1-0 series lead. The series continues at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Cashman Field.

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