Freeman's clutch double pushes Aces past I-Cubs

RENO - Braden Shipley (@shipley25) delivered his fifth quality start and helped himself out by going 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate in the Reno Aces' 5-3 win over the Iowa Cubs Monday night at Greater Nevada Field. Mike Freeman (@MikeBFree5) provided the late heroics once again, breaking a 3-3 deadlock in the eighth with a two-out, two-run double for the go-ahead runs.

Shipley, a former Nevada Wolf Pack star, threw seven innings of three-run ball to keep the I-Cubs at bay before Freeman's game-winner. Shipley, 24, began his eighth start with the Aces with great efficiency. The right-hander blew through the I-Cubs in the first, second and third innings, needing just four, six and 11 pitches to retire nine straight batters.

Iowa (18-18) jumped on Shipley in the fourth, however, scoring twice. John Andreoli doubled to start the frame. Two pitches later, Albert Almora Jr. grounded a run-scoring single to left to give the visitors the lead. Shipley retired the next two batters, but Shane Victorino reached safely on a slow chopper up the third-base line, pushing the I-Cubs' advantage to 2-0.

Reno (17-20) answered in the bottom half against Iowa starter Drew Rucinski. Jack Reinheimer (@Reinheimer_08) ignited the rally with a one-out double and after a flyout, hustled home on a well-placed single by Shipley up the middle to center. Sean Jamieson (@SeanJay04) and Todd Glaesmann (@toddglaesmann22) followed suit, lining consecutive singles, the latter which leveled the game at two.

The Aces took a short-lived lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Reinheimer, but the Cubs bounced back in the sixth, scratching the equalizer across on a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Victorino.

Shipley departed after a scoreless seventh and was forced to settle for a no-decision, despite holding his opponent to three runs or less for a fifth consecutive start. He scattered eight hits, walked none and struck out three.

Dominic Leone (@DLeone54) escaped trouble in the eighth and eventually earned the win thanks to Freeman's go-ahead knock in the home half. The right-hander induced a 1-6-3 inning-ending double play - again by Victorino - to work around an error and intentional walk. Silvino Bracho (@silvinobracho) worked a perfect ninth with one strikeout for his seventh save.

Armando Rivero (2-1) took the loss after giving up two earned runs on three hits over two innings. Rucinski also took a no-decision after allowing three earned runs on 11 hits over six frames.

The Aces clubbed 14 hits to Iowa's eight, and were led by multi-hit performances from Freeman, Jensen, O'Brien, Reinheimer and Shipley.

Reno continues its eight-game, nine-day homestand Tuesday with the finale of a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs. First pitch is set for 11:35 a.m. PT. Reno will send right-hander Josh Collmenter (0-0, -.--) to the mound for a rehab start. The I-Cubs have not yet named a starter.

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