51s HOST THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES IN FIVE-GAME
HOMESTAND FROM AUGUST 21-25
51s TIED FOR FIRST PLACE WITH SACRAMENTO
WITH 16 GAMES TO PLAY
BUDWEISER DOLLAR BEER NIGHT (THURSDAY, AUGUST 22)
51s T-SHIRT NIGHT (FRIDAY, AUGUST 23)
51s BACK PACK NIGHT (SATURDAY, AUGUST 24)
The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will open a brief five-game homestand against the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, on Wednesday, August 21 at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. All games on the homestand will begin at 7:05 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday, August 25.
The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, are concluding a five-game road trip in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday evening against the Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Bees are currently tied with Oklahoma City for the best record in the 16-team PCL with a 74-56 mark (.569). Las Vegas, 71-57, is tied for first place in the Pacific Southern Division with the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, with 16 games remaining on the regular season.
Las Vegas will finish the 2013 campaign over the .500 mark for the second consecutive year (2012: 79-64).
The last time the 51s recorded back-to-back over .500 seasons was 2002-03 (2002: 85-59; 2003: 76-66).
2013 ATTENDANCE: In 61 dates, Las Vegas’ total is 283,296 for an average of 4,644. Las Vegas’ season-high crowds, which include four sellouts, are 11,776 against Round Rock on May 10 and 11,522 for the 10th Annual School Day Game against Albuquerque on May 14 at Cashman Field. The Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 30 seasons (1983-2012) and the 51s are 16,704 fans shy of reaching 300,000 in ’13. The all-time attendance total now stands at 10,269,810. The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state ofNevada.
The final Budweiser Dollar Beer Night of the regular season will be featured in game two of the five-game series on Thursday, August 22. Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.
The 51s will then feature promotional giveaways in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. 51s T-Shirt Night, sponsored by Advanced Imaging Solutions (AIS) and Access Health Dental, will be presented on Friday, August 23 and 51s Back Pack Night in game four of the five-game series on Saturday, August 24. The first 2,500 fans through the gates, which open at 6 p.m., will receive these items at the ballpark
The 51s will also present a Book Drive for children in at-risk schools on Saturday, August 24. Fans can donate three or more new or gently used children’s books and will receive a pair of tickets to The Mac King Comedy-Magician Show at Harrah’s and also will be entered into a raffle to win autographed 51s merchandise (Limit one pair of show tickets and one raffle ticket per person. Fan must be present to win).
Fresno’s roster features four of the top 10 prospects in the Giants organization, according to Baseball America: Outfielder Gary Brown (No. 4); left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham (No. 5); right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree (No. 7) and outfielder Francisco Peguero (No. 8).
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Sports 920 The Game, which will carry live all 144 regular season games. Also, all games will be available on the 51s website (Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MLBAM) at www.LV51.com. Russ Langer, the eight-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 14th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.
All 51s games will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via LV51.com.
Following the homestand, Las Vegas will embark on its final road trip of the 2013 regular season and will feature a six-game series at Colorado Springs, Colo., against the Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, from Monday-Thursday, August 26-29. The series will feature “two double-headers” on Monday & Wednesday, August 26 & 28. The Sky Sox-51s had two games postponed due to cold temperatures in Colorado Springs on Monday-Tuesday, April 22-23.
The 51s will then conclude the regular season with a four-game homestand over the Labor Day Weekend at Cashman Field against the Tucson Padres, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, from Friday-Monday, August 30 – September 2. The final game of the 2013 campaign will feature a Labor Day first pitch at 12:05 p.m.
