51s’ five-run seventh keys win over Rainiers

The 51s broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the seventh inning, going on to a 6-0 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers on Wednesday night in Tacoma, Wash.

Las Vegas loaded the bases with no outs as Tacoma committed two errors in the top of the seventh, and Ken Huckaby followed with a two-run single off reliever Jaime Cerda.

Luis Maza then bunted into a double play, but that didn’t halt the 51s’ outburst. After a Tomas Perez grounder, Sergio Garcia hit a three-run homer to make it 5-0.

Huckaby delivered again in the eighth inning with an RBI double.

Starter Hong-Chih Kuo and reliever Eric Stults combined on the five-hit shutout, with Kuo allowing four hits in four innings and Stults (4-4) striking out six over the final five innings.

The two allowed just two walks.

The 51s wrap up their series with Tacoma today, then open a four-game series Friday against Portland at Cashman Field.