SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
An early lead, a late rally and a season-high-tying 17 hits weren’t enough for Reno Friday night, as a nine-run seventh inning lifted the Las Vegas 51s to a 12-9 victory over the Aces in the series finale at Aces Ballpark.
The Las Vegas victory forces a series split, though Reno maintains a 7-4 lead in the 2010 edition of the Silver State Diamond Challenge.
Seemingly in control, the Aces led 6-2 through six innings. But in the seventh, the 51s offense came to life. Las Vegas sent 13 men to the plate, collecting nine runs, seven hits and taking an 11-6 lead.
The Aces fired back with two runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth, but they would get no closer.
Kris Benson, making a Major League rehabilitation start for the Aces, worked three innings, allowing one run on one hit. He walked one and didn’t record a strikeout in a 32-pitch effort. Out of the Aces bullpen, Cesar Valdez (3-7) allowed six runs over three innings in the losing effort, Jason Urquidez surrendered three runs while recording just one out, Jose Marte allowed a run over 1.2 innings of work, and Carlos Rosa worked a scoreless ninth.
The win went to Las Vegas reliever Josh Roenicke (6-0), who allowed two runs on three hits over two frames. Jeremy Accardo slammed the door in the ninth for his 20th save.
Reno Aces outfielder Jeff Bailey doubled in the third inning, extending his home on-base streak to a franchise-high-tying 31-straight games. John Hester hit his seventh home run of the season, and Chris Rahl homered for the third time in the last four games.
Next up, the Aces head to Tacoma to begin a four-game series with the Rainiers at Cheney Stadium. In Saturday’s opener,
RHP Kevin Mulvey (5-6, 5.11 ERA) gets the nod for Reno, while Tacoma counters with LHP Ryan Feierabend (3-3, 4.92 ERA). First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. PT.
The Aces return home to Reno on Wednesday, Aug. 4 to kick-off an eight-game homestand versus Nashville and Memphis. 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.
