The Elevator

Sat, Apr 12, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Who’s going to the penthouse in local sports and beyond — and who’s getting the shaft:

GOING UP

And up, and up ...

Las Vegas resident Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas of the Toronto Blue Jays belted homers in three consecutive games to pump his record total as a DH to 264. Edgar Martinez, with 243, drifts farther back in Thomas’ rear-view mirror every week. The former Auburn tight end turns 40 in May. Just don’t approach him when he’s playing $100 blackjack hands at the Bellagio.

Herculean rehab

Las Vegas High graduate Herculez Gomez is back on the field for the Colorado Rapids after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in practice in September. The striker, who celebrated his 26th birthday Sunday, has played 48 minutes in two Major League Soccer games this season. Look for him today when the Rapids visit New England.

The battler

Jason Johnson, 34, has lost both of his starts for the Las Vegas 51s and owns a 17.05 ERA. The 6-foot-6 pitcher is 55-98 in the majors. But he’s an inspiration every time he steps to the mound. A diabetic, Johnson won MLB’s Tony Conigliaro Award, for overcoming adversity, in 2001 when he became the first player to wear an insulin pump on the field. It’s on the left side of his lower back.

Hockey Town

Maybe Las Vegas hasn’t ripped that moniker from Detroit yet, but that’s the aim of Wranglers coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan. In three of the past four seasons, he’s lost in the playoffs to the eventual ECHL Kelly Cup champs. With ace wing Peter Ferraro and stout rookie Kevin Lalande between the pipes this time around, the five-year-old franchise might soon claim its first title.

GOING DOWN

One-shot wonder?

After breaking through with her first career victory last year in six seasons on the LPGA Tour, Natalie Gulbis of Henderson is 0-for-5 in top-10 finishes in 2008. She won the Evian Masters a year ago with Lorena Ochoa on her heels. Ochoa then dominated the women’s game by winning four of the next six tournaments, including the Women’s British Open. Ochoa hasn’t slowed, winning last weekend in Palm Springs.

Big miss

Those UPS TV ads are constant, yet the connection wasn’t made. Oops! Big Brown became the Kentucky Derby favorite when he romped to victory in the Florida Derby. He’s 3-for-3 and won’t run again until the first Saturday in May in Louisville. His Daily Racing Form odds for Kentucky are 7-2. You could have gotten 150-1 less than two months ago at the Hilton race and sports book.