FRESNO - The Fresno Tacos (70-51) beat the Las Vegas 51s (60-61) 6-3 Tuesday night from Chukchansi Park. With the victory, the magic number lowered from 13 to 11 with 19 games left to play. The Tacos also won their 17th set of the season (31 chances) and jumped to 19 games over .500, the highest mark of 2018.
J.D. Davis (2-for-3) provided Fresno a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth when he demolished a pitch to center field. The three-run moonshot was his 10th of the year. When the Tacos score first, they are (25-4) at home and (54-15) overall.
Fresno extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth. A sacrifice fly to right by Jack Mayfield allowed Antonio Nunez to scamper home. Then, Davis ripped a single to center, knocking in Myles Straw. Davis finished the game with four RBI, his third time accomplishing the feat this season. The last time a Fresno player recorded four RBI at home was Derek Fisher on July 19th versus Sacramento.
After 14 and two-thirds innings straight of scoreless ball, Las Vegas broke the streak with a three-run top of the sixth. Bryce Brentz dented a double to center, plating a pair. Then, Dominic Smith (3-for-4) singled home Brentz, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
A double steal and wild pitch made it 6-3 Tacos in the bottom of the sixth with Alex De Goti scoring. Straw was the other piece of the double steal, tallying his second of three stolen bases on the night. He raised his 2018 total to 61 swipes, the best in professional baseball. In 51 Triple-A games, he has 26 steals in 28 attempts, tied for third best in the PCL.
Tacos starter Framber Valdez (2-0) enjoyed the win in his first Triple-A start (second game overall). The lefty hurled five and two-thirds frames, scattering four hits, three runs (earned), while walking three and punching out six. Chris Devenski (MLB rehab) entered the contest in the seventh and chucked 16 pitches over two-thirds scoreless innings. Matt Ramsey followed Devenski and shut down Las Vegas for an inning and a third.
With a 6-3 advantage, Reymin Guduan closed the door on any comeback. He fanned two in a perfect ninth, securing his second save. That would collect the staff 10 whiffs in the game, pushing the season-total to 1,156 (tops in the PCL).
51s starter Nabil Crismatt (3-4) suffered the decision after four-plus frames of work. He was charged with five runs (three earned), on four hits, four free passes and five strikeouts.
Both squads end the series Wednesday evening from Chukchansi Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PT. Las Vegas RHP Cody Martin (3-4, 6.93) and Fresno fellow righty Rogelio Armenteros (7-1, 3.53) are the probable matchup.
