SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Brandon Allen hit his franchise-record 18th home run of the season Tuesday night, but two ninth-inning Las Vegas runs pushed the 51s to a series-opening 7-5 win over the Reno Aces at Aces Ballpark.
Reno led 5-4 through seven innings on Tuesday, but the 51s rallied to tie the game in the eighth before taking the lead in the ninth. Despite the defeat, the Aces still hold a 5-3 advantage in the 2010 edition of the Silver State Diamond Challenge.
With a solo blast in the third inning, Allen now has homered in three-straight games and six of his last seven. He has hit seven homers over the last seven days, and eight in the month of July. Already the franchise leader in career homers with the Aces, Allen is now also the club’s single-season home run leader.
Aces starter Matt Torra did not figure into the decision, allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings of work. Torra walked two and struck out six. TJ Beam (2-3) came on in relief of Torra and surrendered a game-tying solo homer in the eighth, and two go-ahead runs in the ninth to be pinned with the loss.
Las Vegas reliever Merkin Valdez (2-3) worked a scoreless eighth inning to pick up the victory for the 51s. Starter Robert Ray allowed five runs on six hits over five innings of work. Jeremy Accardo slammed the door in the ninth for his 19th save of the campaign.
Four Aces batters recorded a multi-hit effort on Tuesday, including Ryan Roberts, who hit his 10th home run of the season in the fifth.
The series continues on Wednesday night from Aces Ballpark. LHP Zach Kroenke (2-3, 4.77 ERA) makes a spot start for the Aces, while Las Vegas will counter with LHP Luis Perez (3-2, 5.92 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PT.
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 RenoAces.com. The brand-new Freight House District, located just outside Aces Ballpark, is open seven days a week, on both game days and non-game days.
