Vargas, Marte Combine For Eight RBI in 12-9 Victory Over Tacoma

TACOMA, Wash. - The Reno Aces won for the second consecutive time over the Tacoma Rainiers after a wild offensive frenzy at Cheney Park in Washington. Despite five errors on the Aces defense, the offense was able to pick up the victory, led by the top two in the lineup, Ildemaro Vargas and Ketel Marte, who combined for eight RBI on the night. Vargas went four-for-five for a second consecutive night and knocked a second-inning grand slam off of Mariners rehabber and ace Félix Hernández to begin his five RBI night. Hernandez, who was on a set pitch count, finished after two innings with three strikeouts.

After taking the early 5-0 lead in the second inning off of Hernandez thanks to the Aces second grand slam in two nights by Vargas, the Rainiers came powering back with a seven-run, six-hit inning to take a 9-5 lead.
Aces starter Aaron Laffey, who only allowed five runs total in his last four starts, ran into trouble in Tacoma's third when the bases were loaded after a fielding error, two hits and a walk. After a fly-out to right field in his first at-bat, Rainiers Tyler O'Neill found the sweet spot the second time around and, on a 0-1 pitch from Laffey, knocked the game's second grand slam out to left field to go up 7-5. Tacoma restarted the inning after with three consecutive hits to send across two more and make it a four-run lead.
In the top of the fourth, Reno's offense roared again to send them right back into the contest. After a leadoff walk by Zach Borenstein, double by Kristopher Negrón and a groundout by Hank Conger to move both runners into scoring position, Vargas hit an RBI single, scoring Borenstein. In the very next at-bat, Marte sent a ball deep to right field for a three-run home run to tie the game at nine a piece.
In Reno's sixth, with the game still tied, Vargas continued his hot night with a double to right field followed by a walk to Marte. With one out and Vargas as the go-ahead run, Oswaldo Arcia lasered a ball off the top of the right field fence, just inches shy of a home run, resulting in a long single and breaking the tie, making it a 10-9 game. With runners on the corners, a wild pitch sent Marte charging home to score Reno's eleventh run.
Zach Borenstein added Reno's twelfth and final run of the contest on his one-out, opposite-field home run in the seventh inning. 
Laffey walked away with a no-decision after two and one-third innings. The lefty allowed eight earned runs on nine hits. Keyvius Sampson (4-3) earned the victory after he tossed two and two-third strong innings of relief behind Laffey with six of his eight outs coming on strikeouts. Relievers Kaleb Fleck, Rubby De La Rosa, and Silvino Bracho all recorded holds after combining for three innings of one-hit ball. Jimmie Sherfy notched his sixth save of the season after a one-two-three ninth inning.
The win brings Reno to a record of 37-22 on the season, four games up on the Rainiers in the Pacific Northern Division. The Aces will take on the Rainiers in game three tomorrow morning at 11:35 a.m. The Aces return to Greater Nevada Field on June 17 where they will face the Las Vegas 51's. Tickets 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.