Lucky Sevens: Aces extend win streak

LAS VEGAS - The Reno Aces have their longest winning streak in more than four years following an 8-4 win over the Las Vegas 51s on Friday night at Cashman Field. Six Aces players each recorded a pair of hits, while Mitch Haniger (@M_Hanny19) and Chris Owings (@cowings5) both had two RBI to back Anthony Banda (@anthony_banda3), who won his second straight start with a third consecutive quality outing.

The Aces started fast, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Owings led off the game with a single to center, and David Peralta (@dperalta6) followed him with an RBI double. Two batters later, Kyle Jensen (@TheKJensen42) lined a run-scoring base hit to center to plate Peralta.

Reno (54-45) extended its lead to 7-0 in the second with five runs on six hits, including three home runs. Ildemaro Vargas (@ildemaro_tigre) led off the frame with a homer to left, his first blast in five games with the Aces. Banda then helped his own cause with a single to left, setting up a two-run shot from Owings that extended Reno's lead to five. Peralta followed with a single before Haniger punctuated the big inning with a two-run homer to left field.

The Aces added an eighth run in the sixth inning. Dan Rohlfing (@DanRohlfing) singled to center to lead off the frame, moving to second on Banda's sacrifice bunt before coming around to score on a base hit by Sean Jamieson (@SeanJay04), who had entered as a defensive replacement for Owings at shortstop.

Las Vegas (50-48) got on the board with a run in the home half. Ty Kelly led off with a double, advancing on a wild pitch before scoring on a pinch-hit single by Kevin Plawecki to make the score 8-1. The 51s added a second run in the eighth, capitalizing on a leadoff walk to Travis Taijeron with two singles, the second of which was a pinch-hit RBI base hit by Dilson Herrera.

The 51s completed the scoring in the ninth with two runs on three hits. Eric Campbell led off with a single to left, and Nevin Ashley followed with a one-out infield base knock. Taijeron then lined a double to left to bring home Campbell, and Ashley scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Kelly.

Reno has now won seven games in a row, its longest run since an eight-game strand from May 4-11 during the club's 2012 national championship season that ties for the longest winning streak in team history (also: July 9-19, 2011).

Owings recorded his third multi-hit game during his current rehab assignment, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. The 2013 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player has hit safely in each of his five games for Reno this season. Haniger's double and homer gave him 26 extra-base hits in 40 games with the Aces since his promotion from Mobile on June 10, which leads all of professional baseball during that span.

Banda (2-2) pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Over his last three outings, the Texas native is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA (6 ER/20.1 IP) and 16 strikeouts.

The Aces and 51s continue their four-game series with game two on Saturday. First pitch from Cashman Field is set for 7:05 p.m. PT. Reno has not named a starter, while right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (9-4, 4.09) will pitch for Las Vegas.

Ticket packages are on-sale now at www.renoaces.com or by calling (775) 334-4700. Follow the club all season long on Twitter (@Aces) or like the team on Facebook.