51s HOST ROUND ROCK EXPRESS & ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES IN EIGHT-GAME HOMESTAND FROM MAY 7-14
BUDWEISER DOLLAR BEER NIGHT (THURSDAY, MAY 9); FIREWORKS SHOW (FRIDAY, MAY 10)
51s BAT BAG NIGHT/BOY SCOUTS NIGHT (SATURDAY, MAY 11);
10TH ANNUAL SCHOOL DAY GAME ON TUESDAY, MAY 14 AT 10:35 A.M.
The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will open an eight-game homestand on Tuesday, May 7 against the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. The four-game series against the Express from Tuesday-Friday, May 7-10 will feature start times of 7:05 p.m. Las Vegas will also begin a stretch of 16 straight games against the American Conference from May 7-23. Following the series against the Express, the 51s will host the Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in a four-game series from Saturday-Tuesday, May 11-14. Las Vegas was the top affiliate of the Dodgers for eight seasons from 2001-08. The Albuquerque Dukes were the Triple-A affiliate of the Dodgers for 29 seasons from 1972-2000.
The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, are concluding an eight-game road trip tomorrow evening in Sacramento, Calif., against division-rival, the River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s. Las Vegas, 13-15, is in third place in the Pacific Southern Division, three games behind the River Cats.
2013 ATTENDANCE: In 12 dates, Las Vegas’ total is 62,736 for an average of 5,228. Las Vegas’ season-high crowd was a sellout of 9,351 against Tacoma on April 27 at Cashman Field. The Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 30 seasons (1983-2012) and the all-time attendance total now stands at 10,049,250. The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada.
Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will be presented in game three of the four-game series on Thursday, May 9. Every Thursday home game throughout the 2013 campaign will feature “Dollar Beers.” Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.
A spectacular postgame “Fireworks Show” will be featured in the finale of the series against the Express on American Heart Association Night on Friday, May 10.
Round Rock’s roster features the top two prospects in the Rangers organization, according to Baseball America: top prospect, shortstop Jurickson Profar and No. 2 prospect, third baseman Mike Olt. Left-handed pitcher Brad Mills, who played for the 51s from 2009-11, is also a member of the Round Rock roster. He has posted a 4-0 record with a 2.79 ERA in six starts (38.2 IP/31 H/27 SO) and was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week on April 15.
51s Bat Bag Night will be featured in the opener of the four-game series on Saturday, May 11 against Albuquerque at 7:05 p.m. The gates will open at 6 p.m. and the first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive a “Bat Bag” on Boy Scouts Night.
Game two of the series on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12) will feature a matinee contest at 12:05 p.m. The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a Braided Necklace. In addition, “Little League Day 2” will be featured and selected 51s players will be available to sign pre-game autographs for the Little League teams in attendance. In addition, all children will have the opportunity to “Run the Bases” at the conclusion of the contest (with proper shoe attire).
Value Menu Monday will be presented on May 13 at 7:05 p.m. Monday “home” games will feature a “Value Menu” for the fifth straight season. The 51s and Aramark have teamed together for discounted food items on Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and Pretzels for just $1.00 per item.
The finale of the homestand on Tuesday, May 14 will feature “The 10th Annual School Day Game” with a field trip to 5th grade students in the Clark County School District for the special start time of 10:35 a.m.
Over the past nine seasons, a total of 79,970 fans have attended the morning games. Last season (May 7, 2012), a crowd of 11,465 attended the game between Salt Lake/Las Vegas (W, 7-6). The 51s hosted Tucson in the inaugural “school day” game on May 6, 2004, before a crowd of 4,224.
The Tobacco Awareness Program, through the Clark County School District, is an important event that takes place prior to the “School Day” game that serves to educate the young students on the dangers of cigarette smoking.
The Isotopes are managed by Lorenzo Bundy, the 2012 PCL Manager of Year. Bundy was the skipper for the 51s for two seasons (2007-08) when Las Vegas was the top farm club of the Dodgers. In addition, Glenn Dishman enters his third season as the Isotopes pitching coach and the former left-handed pitcher was a member of the Las Vegas Stars from 1994-96.
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Fox Sports Radio 920 AM, 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, the next scheduled off day for the PCL is Wednesday. May 15. Las Vegas will then embark on an eight-game “Midwest” road trip beginning on Thursday, May 16 to Omaha, Neb. The 51s will face the Omaha Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, in a four-game series from Thursday-Sunday, May 16-19. Las Vegas will then conclude its stretch of 16 consecutive games against the American Conference in Des Moines, Iowa against the Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, in a four-game series from Monday-Thursday, May 20-23. The final three games of the trip will feature day games at Noon (CT).
Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the America First Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field. The box office is open Monday-Friday (non game days) from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com). Ticketmaster outlets are located at selected Smith’s Food & Drug.
The individual game tickets for the 72-game home season are priced at $10.00 (reserved, $11.00-Day of Game); $13.00 (plaza, $14.00-Day of Game) and $14.00 (field, $15.00-Day of Game). The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza and reserved seats throughout the season except for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” on Wednesday, July 3 (all seats are priced at $15.00 for this special event).
Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Game You Pick’em, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.
Official licensed 51s team merchandise is available on the “Team Shop” section of the website at www.LV51.com.
– Visit the Las Vegas 51s on the Internet at www.lv51.com –
– Visit www.MiLB.com – the official site of Minor League Baseball –