The Las Vegas 51s have found lots of ways to win games early on this season. Not many have required them to outslug their opponents because of the incredible way that their pitching staff has performed, but on Thursday night they were going to need an exceptional offensive performance and Danny Muno helped to lead the attack in the 11-6 win.

The game got underway with each team scoring three runs in the first inning. For the Oklahoma City Dodgers it was the long ball that gave the club the early 3-0 lead. With Corey Seager at first and two outs, Chris Heisey took Las Vegas starter Steven Matz deep over the left field fence for his ninth home run of the season. O’Koyea Dickson followed with a shot over the right-center field fence for his fourth homer.

The 51s used the long ball to tie the score in the bottom half of the first. Scott Baker gave up a lead-off walk to Danny Muno, and Matt Reynolds followed with a single to center field. That brought Brooks Conrad to the plate, and he took Baker deep to nearly the same place as Dickson’s shot. It was Conrad’s second home run of the season and tied the game.

Matz kept the Dodgers off of the scoreboard in the second, but Baker would not be as successful. Wilfredo Tovar singled with one out, but was forced at second on a ground out by Matz, leaving the pitcher on first. Muno then came to the plate and drilled a shot over the fence near where Conrad’s home run had landed and it was 5-3 Las Vegas 51s in front.

Neither team could score in the third, but in the fourth Las Vegas plated three more runs. Cory Vaughn began the inning with a triple, and he scored when Dan Rohlfing singled to right field. Two batters later Matz singled moving Rohlfing to second. Muno attempted to lay down a bunt, but the Dodgers’ catcher pounced on the ball and in his haste to nail the lead runner he threw it away allowing both runners to score and sending Muno the third. Muno was nailed trying to score, and Conrad popped out to end the threat. It was 8-3.

In the fifth Oklahoma City was able to get two back. A lead-off single by Brian Burgamy and a double by Darnell Sweeney put runners at second and third with no one out. An error scored Burgamy, and Sweeney scored on a double-play ball that made it 8-5.

The Dodgers crept their way closer in the seventh when they scored a run to pull within two. Ralph Henriquez doubled to start the inning, and scored on a base hit by Austin Barnes. It was 8-6 and things were beginning to get a little too close for comfort for Las Vegas.

In the bottom half of the inning the 51s ended any comeback hopes the Dodgers may have had. Muno tripled against Chris Reed to begin the inning. Reynolds followed with a walk, and two batters later Alex Castellanos singled to score both Muno and Reynolds. Travis Taijeron was then walked, and Vaughn singled to load the bases. Rohlfing then lifted a fly ball to center field that was plenty deep enough to score Castellanos and the 51s lead was five.

That is where the game would end, with the Las Vegas 51s winning 11-6. Matz (5-2) earned the win despite not really pitching up to his standards. The lefty gave up 8 hits and 4 earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched, but he did strike out 7. Baker (2-3) took the loss.

Muno was the big hitting star on the day. He finished 2-3 with 3 runs scored, a home run, 2 RBI, a triple and a walk. Conrad drove in three runs, and Castellanos and Rohlfing each drove in two.

Barnes had three of the Dodgers nine hits. Heisey plated two.

These two teams will go at it again Friday night.   Joe Wieland (3-1, 4.66) gets the start for Oklahoma City against Tyler Pill (1-0, 5.75) for the Las Vegas 51s. Game time is 7:05 local time.

Boxscore by MiLB.com

By Robert Pannier