Purcey, Barrett lead 51s to a win

David Purcey continued to dominate AAA competition Friday night, pitching seven shutout innings in a game the 51s won 4-3 with an assist from former major-league All-Star Michael Barrett.
Purcey threw 103 pitches, 56 for strikes, and struck out three while giving up three walks, two hits and one hit-by-pitch against the Portland Beavers at Cashman Field.
“I was struggling a little bit … but you gotta make those pitches when they count, and I think I did a fairly good job of that tonight,” Purcey said.
Purcey said a mechanical change he made in Toronto and has refined with 51s pitching coach Dave LaRoche has been the difference during his time in Las Vegas, where he is still 2-1 after his seventh no-decision in ten starts at AAA, but with an ERA of 3.79,
“I’m a lot more comfortable with what I’m doing now. It’s just a matter of getting repetition in,” he said.
Surprise Beavers starter Tim Stauffer nearly matched Purcey in his first start since the 2007 season, staying on the mound for five innings and holding Las Vegas to one run on four hits, striking out four and walking none.
The 51s’ first run, a third-inning RBI single for shortstop Russ Adams, held up until the eighth, when the bullpen relieved Purcey. Bubbie Buzachero, called up Thursday from AA New Hampshire to replace closer Jeremy Accardo on the roster, failed to record an out, loading the bases on two walks and a single.
Brian Wolfe (1-1) relieved Buzachero and walked his first batter, forcing in the tying run. After a strikeout, rightfielder Vincent Sinisi bounced into what might have been the inning-ending double play, but the ball struck Wolfe’s leg and died in the infield grass for an RBI single that scored another run. By the time Wolfe escaped the inning, a fielders choice had brought home another run, making the score 3-1.
But the 51s found their offense in the bottom of the inning, with Barrett playing a key role. With two outs, a run in and runners on first and second, Aaron Mathews grounded a ball into the hole between shortstop and third. College of Southern Nevada product Sean Kazmar made a diving stop at shortstop, saving the run and loading the bases.
Then Barrett, playing his first game in a rehab assignment with the 51s, stepped in to the batter's box and fell behind 1-2. But he took an outside fastball from Eulogio de la Cruz (0-2) up the middle for a line-drive single that plated two runs for the lead.
Wolfe finished off the game, giving the 51s two straight wins to start off an abbreviated four-game homestand.

DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE GAME
The only real danger Purcey faced in his seven shutout innings came in the top of the sixth inning, when Mathews preserved the 1-0 lead with a two-out diving catch of a sinking liner off the bat of Sinisi, stranding runners on first and second and two out.

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE GAME
One lucky fan at every 51s game is selected to help the field crew and receive Gordie Brown tickets in return. Friday night, a rather attractive young woman was chosen and excited the crowd when she bent over to clean off home plate.
Barrett felt left out that he missed it, so when he arrived at home plate he demonstratively pointed out that she missed a spot and attempted to get her back. He failed in that quest, but he managed to crack the press box up, at least …

NOTES: The Beavers were playing with two empty roster spots due to a flurry of activity involving their parent club, the San Diego Padres. As noted in the previous post, Beavers first baseman Kyle Blanks was placed on the big-league roster Friday; he was joined by catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, infielder Everth Cabrera and pitcher Wade LeBlanc. … Stauffer joined the club just before the game from AA San Antonio, where had been pitching exclusively in relief. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2003 draft but missed all of last season after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.