Pitcher’s Duel Gives Sacramento 2-1 Win Over Las Vegas 51s
It was a good old-fashioned pitching duel Friday night between Sacramento River Cats starter Robert Coello and the Las Vegas 51s Steven Matz. With both starters looking for their fifth win of the season the two dominated, but eventually a late run was the difference as the River Cats won 2-1.
The 51s looked like they were going to take the early lead when Darrell Ceciliani singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a balk. However, Coello settled down and got Alex Castellanos to pop out to end the threat.
In the top of the second the River Cats got on the scoreboard when Trevor Brown lined a Matz offering over the left-center field fence to make the score 1-0. It was Brown’s first home run of the season.
From there the two pitchers took over, although there were some bumps along the way. The Sacramento starter gave up a lead-off double in the bottom of the second, and one batter later hit Dan Rohlfing, but was able to escape the inning unscathed. Coello hit two more batters in the third, but got a ground ball to end the inning.
Matz responded to the home run with true poise. He retired 19 of the next 20 batters, only issuing a one out walk in the third. During that span he struck out seven. He entered the eighth inning and got the first two outs of the frame, but Darren Ford laid down a perfect bunt and beat it out for a single. An error by the first baseman allowed Ford to reach second. Ford then stole third and scored on a single by Brett Jackson. That would be it for Matz (4-2). The lefty went 7.2 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 9. Both runs that scored against him were earned.
Coello (5-1) was done after six innings. He allowed 4 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings pitched, while striking out 6.
Cody Hall and Erik Cordier pitched an inning each over the next two frames, keeping Las Vegas off the scoreboard. Cordier struck out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth.
Mike Broadway took over for Sacramento in the ninth inning. The Las Vegas 51s needed someone to provide a spark, and with one out Kyle Johnson delivered. He lined a hit into left field and hustled into second with a double. Danny Muno followed with a single to put runners at the corners with just one out. Ceciliani hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. Matt Reynolds followed with a walk, putting runners at first and second with two outs, and things were getting really interesting. Broadway was struggling, but remained poised. He struck out Cory Vaughn to end the inning and the Sacramento River Cats won 2-1.
With their series concluded these two teams head their separate ways. The Sacramento River Cats travel to Albuquerque to take on the Isotopes. The Las Vegas 51s head to Tacoma. Tyler Pill (1-0, 6.43) heads to the hill for the 5:05 start.
By Robert Pannier
