Memphis avoids sweep with matinee win over Aces

RENO - The Reno Aces (@Aces) came up short in their bid to sweep the Memphis Redbirds in a 6-4 loss Sunday afternoon at Aces Ballpark.

Trailing by three runs into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Aces rallied only to see their comeback attempt come to a halt when Memphis shortstop Aledmys Diaz made a game-saving play.

The Redbirds put the Aces in an early hole when they plated a pair of runs in the second inning. With one out and Anthony Garcia at second, Jacob Wilson lined a single back up the middle. Garcia tried to score but was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Todd Glaesmann (@toddglaesmann22).

Moments later, Diaz started the scoring when he cranked a two-run homer to deep left to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead.

Reno got a run back in the third with a two-out rally. Mike Freeman (@MikeBFree5) and Glaesmann collected back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners for Nick Evans. The first baseman came through with an RBI single to left to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Two doubles in the fourth - one by Danny Worth, and one from Brandon Drury - tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth.

The Redbirds busted the game open in the fifth. Memphis sent ten to the plate against reliever Justin Marks and scored four runs to take a 6-2 lead. The big blow was a bases-clearing double by Jacob Wilson.

Glaesmann was back at it again in the fifth when he collected his third hit of the game, a solo homer to right-center to trim the Redbirds' lead to 6-3. Glaesmann finished the game 4-for-5, his fifth consecutive multi-hit game. His first-inning single extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Relievers Seth Simmons (@SizzleSimmons95) and Enrique Burgos kept the Redbirds off the scoreboard for the final three innings.

The Aces wasted a golden opportunity in the bottom of the seventh when Glaesmann singled to start the inning. Evans followed with a double to put Glaesmann at third, but Memphis right-hander Miguel Socolovich followed by retiring the next three hitters in order.

Freeman started a rally in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff triple to the gap in right-center. Evans' third hit of the game brought in Freeman to trim the deficit to 6-4. Jamie Romak followed with a single to left to put the tying run on base. Drury lined out to left for the second out of the inning before Peter O'Brien worked a walk off Mitch Harris.

The bases were loaded for Worth who hit a bouncer up the middle on the first pitch he saw. Diaz ranged to his left from his shortstop position and flipped the ball with his glove to the second baseman Dean Anna who bare-handed the ball and stepped on second to force O'Brien and end the game.

Reno outhit Memphis 15-13 in the loss. Freeman and Romak joined Glaesmann and Evans with multi-hit games.

Starter Nick Greenwood got the win for the Redbirds to improve his record to 12-6. Marks was charged with the loss, his ninth of the season.

The Aces head to Sacramento for a four-game series with the River Cats set to begin Monday night. Right-hander Blayne Weller (1-1, 5.02) starts for Reno against right-hander Clayton Blackburn (8-4, 3.23) for Sacramento. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Aces return home for the final five games of the season on Friday, September 4 when they host El Paso. Group outings are on-sale now at www.RenoAces.com or by calling (775) 334-4700. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the season, follow the club on Twitter (@aces) or like the team on Facebook.