Montero, 51s bullpen dominate River Cats
Rafael Montero’s last start was his worst of the season.
The righty lasted just four innings and got rocked, giving up seven runs against El Paso.
But Montero turned it around Monday, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and giving up just four hits in 51s’ 1-0 victory over Sacramento at Raley Field.
“For me, watching from the side, he’s just been trying to be too fine and I thought today he attacked the strike zone with his fastball more, so that’s the way that Rafael Montero, when he’s successful, he pitches,” manager Wally Backman said. “He attacks the strike zone early and then can expand the strike zone when he gets ahead in the count.”
After him, relievers Josh Smoker, Jeff Walters, Paul Sewald, Josh Edgin and Chasen Bradford tossed 3 1/3 innings solid innings with the River Cats managing just one hit off the 51s bullpen.
Sewald, typically the team’s closer, came in in the eighth and pitched over a one-out single. Edgin came in in the ninth and got two quick strikeouts before handing it over to Bradford, who got Mac Williamson, one of Sacramento’s best hitters, to pop out.
“Those guys matched up the way that they’d probably match up in the big leagues and they did a great job,” Backman said of his relievers.
Las Vegas broke open a scoreless tie in the fifth inning off of River Cats starter Chris Heston when shortstop Matt Reynolds doubled to left, driving in the only run of the game.
Reynolds, who was hitting .115 in May coming into the game, found himself at the top of the lineup Monday and went 2-for-4.
Backman, after seeing Reynolds’ success leading off innings this season, thought he’d give him a shot there, ensuring he got to lead off at least one inning.
“Even though he’s been struggling, I know he’s going to come around and he got the biggest hit of the night for us, so he made me look smart,” Backman said.
Reynolds went 1-for-2, leading off innings, starting the game with a single.
“His history says that he leads off innings very well,” Backman said. “Just trying to boost some confidence, I think, in the player. He had a good game. I know he doesn’t feel like where he wants to be right now but he got two hits tonight and he drove in the only run.”
Reynolds drove in left fielder Ty Kelly, who went 4-for-4 on the day, moving his batting average up to .427, and Backman said Kelly’s Pacific Coast League-leading batting average has earned him a new nickname from his teammates: “Ty Kelly Cobb.”
On a night where the pitching staff was in lockdown mode, nine hits — six from Reynolds and Kelly combined — and one run was good enough.
The win marked the team’s third straight and the 51s now head home after giving up just two runs in the past three games.
Las Vegas finished its eight-game swing through El Paso and Sacramento 5-3, making it successful road trip even though two of the losses came after the 51s lost large leads.
“I really feel the only game that we got beat on this road trip was the first game here in Sacramento,” Backman said. “I thought we beat ourselves the last two games in El Paso. I’m satisfied because we’re 5-3. It’s a winning record on the road, but still, it could have been a lot better, so there’s definitely room for improvement.”
Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand