When RF Eric Campbell was sent down to the Las Vegas 51s from the New York Mets he made a commitment to himself that his stay in Nevada was going to be a short one. After a 3-4 day at the plate raised his average to .429 in the 13 games he has played in since returning to Las Vegas, it is easy to see that his stay out west may be coming to an end quicker than anyone had imagined.

While Campbell has been hitting the ball with authority, Tuesday night’s comeback win was led by several 51s players, especially their 1-4 hitters, who combined to go 10-19 with 6 runs scored and 8 RBI. The heart of the Las Vegas batting order really delivered for the club on a night when they would need all the runs they could get.

Matt Bowman started for Las Vegas, and he found himself in trouble early. The Sacramento River Cats scored three runs in the first. Ehire Adrianza doubled with one out, and following a Hunter Pence walk, Jarrett Parker blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the River Cats the early lead.

In the second Sacramento was back on the scoreboard again. Juan Ciriaco led off the inning with a single, and scored all the way from first when Guillermo Quiroz doubled into the left field gap. Two outs later Adrianza was back at the plate. He lined a Bowman offering into right field to increase the lead to five runs.

Sacramento starter Austin Fleet retired the 51s in order in the bottom of the first and, after giving up back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the second, retired the final three batters of the second frame to keep his team on top 5-0. Fleet really showed his stuff by getting a pop out and a line out for the final two batters of the inning after both runners had been moved into scoring position with just one out.

In the top of the third Bowman walked the bases loaded, but was able to get out of the inning by retiring Fleet on a soft grounder back to the mound. It would be the last pitch the right-hander would throw for the night. The 51s starter allowed five hits, four walks and five runs in three innings, while striking out two.

Fleet had pitched well through the first two innings, but in the third he was about to hit the immovable force that is the 51s batting order. With one out, Danny Muno, Darrell Ceciliani, and Matt Reynolds each singled to load the bases. That brought Campbell to the plate, who ripped a double into left field scoring Muno and Ceciliani. One out later Brooks Conrad was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and Reynolds came home to score on a passed ball to make it 5-3.

Fleet was reeling, and when he walked Brandon Allen the bases were loaded again. Dan Rohlfing stepped to the plate and lined a double into the gap in center field clearing the bases. The three-run double erased the River Cats lead, and put Las Vegas in front for the first time in the game. Kyle Johnson hit a grounder to the third baseman who booted it to keep the inning alive. Muno then doubled scoring both Rohlfing and Johnson and the Las Vegas 51s had an 8-5 lead.

That was the last batter Fleet would face. He allowed 8 hits, a walk, and six earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. It was the right-handers fifth start out of six this season where he did not get past the fifth inning.

Logan Verrett took over for Las Vegas and he was in complete command. The 6-2, 190 pound righty made just his third appearance since joining Las Vegas, and he showed why the Mets organization wanted his talents. Verrett (1-0) pitched 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, no walks, and no runs, while striking out 4. He would earn the win.

While Verrett was doing his job, Juan Gutierrez was pitched equally as well. He had entered in the third to close out the inning, and pitched through the fifth, allowing a single and a walk, while striking out five.

Guitierrez had kept the score close, but in the sixth the 51s would extend their lead. Clay Rapada took over for Sacramento and, after retiring the first two hitters of the inning, gave up a monster blast by Campbell that cleared the left-center field wall. It was the right fielder’s third home run since joining Las Vegas.

In the seventh the 51s extended their lead to seven.  Allen walked with one out. One out later Cory Vaughn drew a walk, and Muno followed with a lined double into center field to score Allen. Ceciliani then lined a double to nearly the same place in center, scoring Vaughn and Muno and it was 12-5.

Sacramento was not dead however. Brett Jackson led off the top of the ninth inning with a home run and, after Adrianza singled, Hunter Pence homered to left-center field to make it 12-8. For Pence it was his first home run since joining the River Cats on his rehab assignment. Cody Satterwhite settled down following the home run, retiring the next three batters to end the game.

It was an amazing comeback win for the Las Vegas 51s, who increased their lead over the El Paso Chihuahuas to four games in the Pacific Southern Division of the Pacific Coast League. The 51s are also tied for the best home record at 11-2.

Darrell Ceciliani continued his torrid start for Las Vegas. His 2-5 day gives him a .341 average, seventh best in the Pacific Coast League. Campbell finished 3-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI. He also had a double and a home run.

These two teams will go at it Wednesday morning at 10:35 local time. Ty Blach (3-2, 3.22) goes to the hill for the Sacramento River Cats, while Darin Gorski (2-2, 6.58) gets the start for the Las Vegas 51s.

Boxscore Provided by MiLB.com

Las Vegas 51s Sightings: Noah Syndergaard made his first start for the New York Mets last night. It was his Major League debut and he pitched quite well against the Chicago Cubs, shutting them out for the first five innings of the game. He gave up three runs in the sixth, however, and wound up taking the loss. Syndergaard threw 103 pitches, 56 for strikes, and struck out six Cubs batters.

By Robert Pannier