Wheeler Bounces Back, Lagares and Hoffman Homer In Vegas Victory

Las Vegas 5, Colorado Springs 4

It took 11 innings, but the Las Vegas 51s were able to escape yesterday’s ballgame with a victory on the strength of a Reese Havens, bases loaded knock to win it in walk-off fashion.

Top-prospect Zack Wheeler took the hill for the 51s and put together one of his more solid efforts in what has been a shaky start to the season. Wheeler went 5 1/3 innings allowing three runs on six hits while walking none and punching out eight, taking a no decision. Wheeler let up a solo shot to Tyler Colvin to draw blood first in this game. Then in the top of the fourth, Corey Dickerson led things off with a triple, immediately followed by an RBI double off the bat of Nolan Arenado to bring Colorado Springs within a run. Wheeler gave up a base hit to Arenado with one out in the sixth before being pulled for Justin Hampson. Arenado would later come around to score on a two-out triple by Ben Paulsen to tie the game at three a piece.

In the bottom of the seventh, Las Vegas regained the lead on a Juan Lagares bomb to left field. That lead would be short lived as Colvin would mash his second homer of the game and send things into extras.

After Armando Rodriguez came on and pitched a scoreless eleventh, the 51s began o rally in the bottom of the frame. Lagares drew a leadoff walk, followed by an intentional pass to Travis d’Arnaud. Wilmer Flores bunted the runners over and Andrew Brown was given the free pass as well to load the bases. Josh Satin went down looking in a seven pitch affair, leaving it all up to Reese Havens. Havens launched one on the second pitch of the at-bat to left enter and score Lagares to hand the 51s a win with some excitement, winning the walk-off 5-4.