Zach Lee Shuts Down Las Vegas 51s in Dodgers 2-0 Victory
If the Las Vegas 51s don’t have to play the Oklahoma City Dodgers anytime soon no one in the Nevada organization will be complaining. The Dodgers came to town and after falling in the first game of the series, they took the last three games, including Sunday’s 2-o shutout victory over the 51s.
Darin Gorski started for the Las Vegas 51s and he pitched quite well for his club. He allowed a first inning run and a run in the fourth in five innings of work, but with the way Lee was pitching that was two runs too many to win this game.
The Dodgers got on the board in the top of the first. Back-to-back singles by Darnell Sweeney and Elliot Johnson put runners at first and second with no one out. Two batters later Sweeney was picked off by Gorski. The Las Vegas starter could not close the deal however, walking Chris Heisey to bring up Brain Burgamy, who singled into left field to score Johnson and make it 1-0.
In the top of the fourth Kyle Jensen doubled with one out and scored with Scott Schebler singled to right field to plate Jensen. That made the score 2-0.
The two runs were plenty enough for the Oklahoma City starter. He retired the first eight hitters of the game before giving up a single to Gorski with two outs in the third. Lee allowed a two out hit to Nelfi Zapata and a walk to Travis Taijeron in the fifth, but ended the inning with a shallow fly to left field.
The Oklahoma City starter retired the last five batters he faced before his day was done at the end of the seventh. The right-hander’s day ended with just 4 hits allowed and a walk in 7 innings of work. He also struck out 3.
In came Ramon Troncoso who allowed a hit in the eighth but finished the inning without any other Las Vegas player reaching base. David Aardsma came in to close out the ninth for Oklahoma City, and after giving up a single and a walk he settled down to retire the heart of the Las Vegas 51s batting order to end the game.
For Aardsma that was already his 14th save of the season, which leads the Pacific Coast League. Lee (5-3) earned the victory. Gorski (3-4) was the hard luck loser. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 7 hits and 3 walks. Both runs scored against him and he added 2 strikeouts.
After losing three of four at home to Oklahoma City, the Las Vegas 51s welcome the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to town. Josh Roenicke (2-0, 3.68) opens the series for Colorado Springs. Ace Duane Below (3-2, 2.51) gets the start for the 51s. Game time is 7:05 local time.
By Robert Pannier
