Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 | 10:30 p.m.
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The Las Vegas 51s are the first Triple-A baseball team to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Cesar Puello had three runs and three hits today, and Daniel Muno gave the 51s the lead for good against visiting New Orleans with a sixth-inning grand slam, helping them clinch a second straight Pacific Conference Southern Division championship with a 14-5 victory.
The 51s, which still have nine games left in the regular season, won 12 of its initial 15 games in leading the division from start to finish. Second-place El Paso lost at Oklahoma City earlier today, meaning a 51s victory would give them the league crown.
It didn’t look good early, though.
The 51s trailed 3-0 today after the first inning, then scored 10 unanswered runs to close the game. They scored six times in the eighth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and using run-scoring singles from Andrew Brown, Brandon Allen and Kevin Plawecki to put the game out of reach.
Puello had two doubles and a home run, Bobby Abreu went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Plawecki scored two runs.
The 51s host games in the PCL Conference Championship Series Sept. 3-4 against a to-be-determined opponent. Tickets go on sale Aug. 25 at the Cashman Field box office or through Ticketmaster.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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