David Hale Rolls but Las Vegas Streak Now 13

David Hale had the good stuff on May 5th. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

David Hale scattered 10 hits and 2 walks over five and two thirds. striking out three. He left with a 3-2 lead and a couple runners on. Justin Miller, just called up from AA today, strikes out one to end the sixth, before Tommy Kahnle blows the whole thing up.

David Hale nearly made the Rockies out of Spring Training, then he got hurt. Going into today he was a rocking a 15.00 ERA (Yes, FIFTEEN) but it was only 6 innings of essentially rehab work. He looked much more complete today, throwing 92 pitches, landing 57 for strikes. Manager Glenallen Hill would have liked a little more from Hale.
“He was still on a pitch count,” Hill said, “Just wish he could have gotten through the sixth.”

Justin Miller bailed Hale out striking out a batter to end the 6th and leave the go ahead run on first.

The seventh looked good as Tommy Kahnle rolled through the 51s, preserving the 3-2 lead for the Topes but the 8th was another story.

A lead off double by 51s Brandon Allen, followed by a walk by Travis Taijeron set up a sacrifice by Catcher Dan Rohlfing putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Kahnle continued to be wild hitting Wilfredo Tovar to load the bases. Cory Vaughn pinch hit and Wild Thing, Tommy Kahnle walks him to tie the game. Finally and mercifully Darrell Cecillani flies out and Brandon Barnes (Who is hitting .224, if you were wondering.) nails Travis Taijeron at home.

The Topes can’t rebound in the 8th and the game remains tied into the 9th, when the wheels come completely off. Jairo Diaz, future Rockies closer comes in. Matt Reynolds singles, followed by Brooks Conrad hitting into what should be a double play but Diaz can’t find the second basemen, instead opting to throw it to the centerfielder. Matt Reynolds moves to third on the error, scoring on a fielders choice to give the 51s the lead. Brooks Conrad then scores on a single and that would give the 51s a 5-3 lead and that would be all they need.

The 51s would add one more as would the Topes in the bottom of the 9th but the 51s make it 13 straight and now are tied with the Salt Lake Bees for the Longest streak since 2005.

Glenallen Hill said after the game “Pitchers have days like this. I just wish it wouldn’t have been today.”

Hill is typically very mellow but he was a little more animated after the game. I asked if the losing streak was getting to him a bit,

“I’m Human.” Hill responded.

The 51s have won 13 straight and in the same time frame the Topes have lost 11 of 13. Life doesn’t get easier for the Topes as they see Noah Syndergaard, Thursday Morning.

The 51s are chasing the PCL all time record of 19 straight set by the Los Angeles Angels (Now the same Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) in 1939.