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Las Vegas Aviators

51s Host Sacramento & Colorado Springs For 8 Games From April 24 - May 2

April 22, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Las Vegas Aviators News Release


LAS VEGAS: The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, will open an eight-game homestand on Saturday, April 24 against the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. The four-game series will run through Tuesday, April 27. Following an off day on Wednesday, April 28, the 51s will host the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, in a four-game series from Thursday-Sunday, April 29 - May 2.

The 51s, under first-year manager Dan Rohn, are currently in first place in the Pacific Southern Division with an 8-5 record. The eight-game road trip will conclude in Salt Lake City against the Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, on Friday evening.

The opener of the homestand on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. will feature Randy Ruiz Bobblehead Night, sponsored by the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, to the first 2,000 fans through the gates. Ruiz, the 2009 PCL MVP, appeared in 114 games for the 51s and became the fifth player in the then 27-year franchise history to win the PCL MVP. He led the league in RBI (106), doubles (43) and extra base hits (70). He currently is a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Game two of the series on Sunday will feature a matinee contest at 12:05 p.m. Little League Day will be featured with selected 51s players signing pre-game autographs for little league players.

Entering its second season, Monday "home" games will feature "Value Menu" as 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 Monday contest between the River Cats and 51s will begin at 7:05 p.m.

The finale of the four-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. will feature Gordie Brown Bobblehead Night, presented by the Golden Nugget, to the first 2,000 fans through the gates. Brown, the impressionist, singer and entertainer, performs his popular show in the Gordie Brown Theater at the Golden Nugget five times weekly.

The River Cats have dominated the PCL's Southern Division. Sacramento has finished in first place in eight out of the last 10 seasons, including three straight seasons (2000-09) and captured the PCL championship four times (2003, '04, '07, '08). Sacramento features the top two prospects in the A's organization, according to Baseball America: outfielder/infielder Chris Carter (No. 1) and outfielder Michael Taylor (No. 2). Taylor (6-foot-6, 260) was involved in the Roy Halladay trade on December 16, 2009. He was then traded from Toronto to Oakland for infielder Brett Wallace. In 2009, Taylor hit a combined .320 with 20 HR and 84 RBI between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Las Vegas will then open a four-game series against the Sky Sox on Thursday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m. Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will be presented and every Thursday home game throughout the 2010 season will feature the popular dollar beer night. Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.

A spectacular post-game Fireworks Show will be featured in game two of the series on Friday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. The pre-game festivities will include a special appearance by comedian Carrot Top, who will join the 51s,

Winder Farms and Central Christian Church in officially launching Three Square's Summer Lunch League. The league is a team-based fundraising campaign to help raise $100,000 to provide 300,000 meals to feed hungry kids in Southern Nevada this summer. For more information, fans can go to www.summerlunchleague.org.

The popular Kids Carnival will be presented on Saturday, May 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cashman Field. The Kids Carnival is free with a purchase of a game ticket to the Sky Sox vs. 51s game at 7:05 p.m.

The finale of the homestand on Sunday, May 2 will feature a matinee contest at 12:05 p.m.

Colorado Springs features three of the top 10 prospects in the Rockies organization, according to Baseball America: right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (No. 4), infielder Eric Young Jr. (No. 6) and right-handed pitcher Esmil Rogers (No. 9).

The 51s 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 five-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 11th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.

Following the eight-game homestand, Las Vegas will embark on an eight-game road trip beginning on Monday, May 3 to Northern Nevada to face the Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, at Aces Ballpark in downtown Reno. The four-game series will run through Thursday, May 6. The road swing will continue to Tacoma, Wash., to face the Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, from Friday-Monday, May 7-10.

Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the Cashman Field box office. 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, Ritmo Latino and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino.

The individual game tickets for the 72-game home season are priced at $9.00 (general admission), $10.00 (reserved), $12.00 (plaza) and $14.00 (field). The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza, reserved and G.A. seats throughout the season except for the holiday fireworks shows on July 2 & 3 (all seats at $14.00).

Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10, 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.

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