THE “FIRST-PLACE” 51s HOST THE ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES
TRIPLE-A AFFILIATE OF THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS
IN A THREE-GAME, TWO-DAY SERIES ON FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 11-12
51s BUCKET HAT NIGHT (JULY 11, 5:05 DOUBLE-HEADER)
LV 51s WALLY BACKMAN REPLICA JERSEY NIGHT (SATURDAY, JULY 12)
TRIPLE-A ALL-STAR BREAK (JULY 13-16)
The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets & 2013 Pacific Southern Division Champions, will open a brief three-game, two-day series on Friday, July 11 against the Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, at Cashman Field in a 5:05 p.m. double-header (two 7-inning contests). The series will then conclude on Saturday, July 12 at 7:05 p.m. The Triple-A All-Star Break will be held from Sunday-Wednesday, July 13-16.
The 51s, under second-year manager Wally Backman, are concluding an eight-game road trip in Northern Nevada against intrastate rival, the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on Thursday evening. Las Vegas is 3-3 on the trip (2-2 vs. Albuquerque; 1-1 vs. Reno). The “first place” 51s have the best record in the 16-team PCL with a 54-39 mark (.581) and lead second-place El Paso (45-48) by 9 games in the Pacific Southern Division. The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, of the International League, have the best record in Triple-A baseball (30 teams) with a 54-37 (.593) mark.
2014 ATTENDANCE: In 48 dates, Las Vegas’ total is 227,764 for an average of 4,745. Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 31 seasons (1983-2013) and the all-time attendance total now stands at 10,542,544. Las Vegas’ season-high crowd, which includes four sellouts, was 11,133 vs. Salt Lake for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” on July 3 at Cashman Field. The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada.
The opener of the homestand against the Isotopes on Friday will feature 51s Bucket Hat Night, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates. The gates open at 4 p.m. for the 5:05 p.m. double-header.
The 51s popular “Jersey Promotion Giveaway Series” continues with LV 51s Wally Backman Replica Jersey Night, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates, on Saturday on Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation Night.
The remaining “2014 Jersey Promotion Series” include: Throwback Stars Jersey (Friday, August 1 vs. El Paso); LV 51s Pinstripe Jersey Mets Style (Saturday, August 23 vs. New Orleans on Fan Appreciation Night).
Albuquerque’s roster features three of the top 10 prospects in the Dodgers organization, according to Baseball America: Top prospect, outfielder Joc Pederson; right-handed pitcher Zach Lee (No. 4); second baseman Alex Guerrero (No. 7). Glenn Dishman, Albuquerque’s pitching coach, played for the Las Vegas Stars from 1994-96. The left-hander played three seasons in the Major Leagues with San Diego (1995-96), Philadelphia (1996) and Detroit (1997).
Albuquerque has been the Triple-A affiliate of the Dodgers since the 2009 season. Prior to that season, the Isotopes were the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins for six seasons (2003-08). The Albuquerque Dukes were the Triple-A affiliate of the Dodgers for 29 seasons from 1972-2000. Las Vegas was the Triple-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers for eight seasons (2001-08).
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Sports 920 (AM) 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 nine-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 15th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.
All 51s games (home & away) will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via LV51.com.
The 27th annual Cree Triple-A All-Star Game, presented by Gildan, will be played on Wednesday, July 16 at 4 p.m. (PDT) at Durham Bulls Athletic Ballpark in Durham, North Carolina (10,000), home of the International League’s Bulls, Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The game featuring the PCL vs. IL will be televised live on the MLB Network (Cox Cable HD 1314) and on-line to MiLB.TV subscribers live on MiLB.com, the official website of Minor League Baseball. The American Forces Network will also showcase the event, bringing MLB Network’s telecast of the Triple-A All-Star Game to the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside the contiguous United States on U.S. military installations and aboard U.S. Navy ships at sea.
In addition, Sports 920 (AM) The Game will broadcast the all-star game live.
Following the “All-Star Break,” the 51s will embark on a nine-game road trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, beginning on Thursday, July 17 against the Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The four-game series will conclude on Sunday, July 20. Las Vegas will then travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in a five-game series from Monday-Thursday, July 21-24. A double-header is scheduled on Wednesday, July 23, to make-up for the postponed game (rain out) from Saturday, May 3.
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 blue dugout seats at $25.00. The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza and reserved seats throughout the season except for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” that was held on Thursday, July 3 (all seats were $15.00 for that special event).
Season tickets, mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Game You Pick’em, 20, 33-game plans) and group ticket packages 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 –
