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.

Dellucci arrives, rivalry begins and Hayhurst angers All-Star

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, another cross-country trip got in the way, with the baseball highlight being a trip to Turner Field to see Javier Vazquez strike out 12 Pirates (above) and the Braves still lose. But no more weddings or trips planned for the rest of the season means more Las Vegas 51s news at 51s Today, so please keep reading.

Another former major leaguer lands in the outfield: David Dellucci is the newest 51, continuing his journeyman career in the Blue Jays system after he was signed late last week. Dellucci has played in more than 1,000 major-league games with six different clubs and won a World Series title in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dellucci was a disappointment after signing a contract with the Cleveland Indians, as injuries and ineffectiveness led to him playing in more than 100 games only once in three seasons. In that one season, 2008, he still was not much of a presence, hitting .238/.307./.405 and driving in 47 runs.
He now joins a crowded outfield in Las Vegas, with former big leaguers Jason Lane, Buck Coats, Travis Snider and Russ Adams on the roster, along with career minor leaguer Aaron Mathews. However, all of those players combined have played in only 877 career MLB games, and all of Adams' work in the majors so far has been in the infield, so Dellucci's 1,091 games of experience may give him the edge if Toronto needs an outfielder.
So far, Dellucci has played in two games and gone 3-for-7, all singles, with one RBI and one stolen base. With Snider on the disabled list, it will be interesting to see how the playing time is doled out, considering Coats has been solid in centerfield and in the leadoff position and Snider needs his work. This could squeeze Lane and Mathews out and put Adams back in the infield.

Will the South rise again? The long-awaited Reno-Las Vegas baseball rivalry officially begins tonight, as the 51s make their first appearance at the new Reno Aces ballpark.
The two teams have agreed to participate in the annual Silver State Diamond Challenge, which will award the winner of the 16-game season series a trophy. The two cities' mayors have put down a side wager as well, and the losing city's mayor will have to don the winner's jersey for a full day of business and donate money to the winning mayor's charity of choice --- $100 per game for the difference in wins in the season series, according to a press release.
The first battle of the intrastate war is a three-game series beginning tonight in Reno, with 7:05 p.m. start times tonight and tomorrow and a 1:05 p.m. day game on Wednesday. Las Vegas sits three games behind Reno in last place in the PCL Pacific South division, so a 51s sweep would pull the two teams even in a third-place tie. Check it out on the radio, 920 AM, or on the Web at sportsjuice.com.

Hayhurst v. Hanley, round one: Former 51s Today favorite Dirk Hayhurst has made a famous enemy in the majors. All-Star Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez told reporters after last night's game that Hayhurst beaned him on purpose, and was very unhappy about it. Most of the vitriol was reserved for his own team, which really makes him look like a leader of men, but it's good to know Dirk is making friends.