SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Yunesky Sanchez was the hero in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday, blasting a walk-off three-run homer to left field to beat the Colorado Sky Sox 8-6 at Aces Ballpark.
After a Ryan Roberts two-run homer tied the score at two, the Aces surrendered four runs in the fourth, as the Sky Sox took a 6-2 lead. The game would stay that way until the ninth, when Sanchez’s heroics capped a six-run Aces rally.
After Roberts reached on a one-out error, Reno strung together three straight singles to cut the lead to 6-3 in the final frame. That set the stage for pinch-hitter John Hester, who hit a two-run double to right, before Sanchez capped the rally with his walk-off shot to left.
Aces starter Bryan Augenstein did not figure in the decision, scattering six runs—all earned—on ten hits over five innings of work. After Jose Marte tossed two scoreless frames, Zach Kroenke (2-2) kept the Sky Sox off the board in the eighth and ninth to earn the win for Reno.
Colorado starter Chaz Roe tossed 8.1 innings for the Sky Sox before leaving in favor of Nick Bierbrodt, who gave up hits to the only two batters he faced. Damian Moss (2-2) took the loss, surrendering the winning homer from Sanchez.
Roberts went 1-for-4 and scored twice in his first game back with Reno after a stint with the D-backs, while Hester and Sanchez came off the bench to drive in five of Reno’s ninth-inning runs.
The Aces continue the four-game series Wednesday against Colorado Springs, sending RHP Kevin Mulvey (2-5, 5.30 ERA) to the mound to face Sky Sox lefty Jorge De La Rosa (0-0, 0.0 ERA), who is on a Major League rehab assignment. First pitch from Aces Ballpark is set for 7:05 p.m. PT.
Aces shortstop Ciriaco tabbed to play in futures game
Reno Aces shortstop Pedro Ciriaco has been selected to represent the World Team in the 12th annual XM All-Star Futures Game, Major League Baseball announced today.
Ciriaco, a native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, is the lone member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization selected to play in the exclusive Futures Game, which showcases the top prospects in all of Minor League Baseball. The game will be played on July 11 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., as a precursor to the 81st Major League All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 13. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. PT, and the action can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV.
Ciriaco is in his first season at the Triple-A level, and has emerged as one of Reno’s best all-around talents. He entered play on Tuesday batting .242 on the season, ranking second on the club with 36 RBIs and tied for first with five triples. Entering the season, Ciriaco was ranked by Baseball America as having the Diamondbacks organization’s best infield arm for the fourth-consecutive season. He was a 2009 Southern League All-Star at Double-A Mobile.
Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25-man rosters for each club, the U.S. Team and the World Team. Each Major League organization is represented and the World Team features players from 10 different countries and territories. Players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to participate.
Sixty-two players have competed in both the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Major League Baseball All-
Star Game, and there are currently 201 players from the first 11 XM All-Star Futures Games on active rosters or disabled lists in the Major Leagues as of today.
The Aces are in the midst of a four-game homestand at Aces Ballpark. Tickets for all Aces games start at just $7, and are available by calling the Reno Aces box office at (775) 334-7000 or by visiting www.RenoAces.com.
