SALT LAKE CITY — It took four batters and three pitching changes in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Las Vegas 51s ultimately held on to hand the Salt Lake Bees their fifth consecutive loss, 3-2, at Smith's Ballpark on Thursday night.
The 51s came up big after facing a tied score, 2-2, heading into the final inning. With two outs and two runners on base, Las Vegas third baseman Willfredo Tovar hit a fast ground ball up the first baseline and through to right fielder Alfredo Marte. The hit sent Brandon Nimmo home, giving the 51s the lead before Dilson Herrera popped up to Bees first baseman Efren Navarro to end the top of the inning.
In the bottom half of the frame, Marte reached base with a line drive to center field, but no other Bees player could move him around the diamond, and Salt Lake dropped to 3-13 when tied after the eighth inning and 1-12 against Las Vegas this season.
The 51s scored the first run of the game, sending Darrell Ceciliani home with a Johnny Monell RBI-line drive single to left field in the top of the first inning. The Bees tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second when third baseman Kaleb Cowart scored on a Gary Brown single to center field.
After three scoreless innings, both teams sent a player across home plate in the sixth inning to push the tie to 2-2. Las Vegas recorded its run when Dilson Herrera hit a leadoff homer past the left field fence and the Bees responded with a leadoff homer from Cowart.
Las Vegas pitcher Darlo Alvarez picked up the win with a single strikeout and one full inning on the mound. Bees pitcher Wesley Wright, who stuck out two batters and gave up an earned run in 1 1/3 innings, was credited with the loss.
Tovar led the 51s at the plate, going 3 for 4 with an RBI. For the Bees, Cowart was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Sarah Thomas earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MBA at Westminster College. She has been covering sports for the Deseret News since 2008.