Big innings doom 51s in 10-4 loss at home to Salt Lake

By Taylor Bern

Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | 11:25 p.m.

The Las Vegas 51s lost 10-4 on Tuesday night to the Salt Lake Bees to split the four-game homestand at Cashman Field.

The 51s won Saturday and Monday but couldn’t clinch a series victory because they gave up two big innings. In the third inning, Salt Lake scored four runs on Las Vegas starter Rafael Montero, knocking him out of the game.

In the seventh inning the 51s scored twice to tie the game. Right fielder Mike Baxter set up the first one with a double that moved Brandon Hicks over to third base and then Baxter scored on a sacrifice fly.

That tie wouldn’t hold, though, as Las Vegas allowed six runs in the top of the ninth inning. The 51s only had two fewer hits (14-12) but the Bees made much better use of theirs, going 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position compared with Las Vegas’ 1-for-8.

The 51s are off Wednesday before beginning a four-game series Thursday at the Tacoma Rainiers.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.