RENO, Nev. Left-hander Aaron Laffey cruised to his second consecutive win of the season, tossing seven innings of two-run baseball over the Las Vegas 51's. Laffey lowered his astounding ERA to a remarkable 1.67 against the 21-33 Las Vegas ball club. The Aces hammered out 11 hits on the evening,
RENO, Nev. Left-hander Aaron Laffey cruised to his second consecutive win of the season, tossing seven innings of two-run baseball over the Las Vegas 51's. Laffey lowered his astounding ERA to a remarkable 1.67 against the 21-33 Las Vegas ball club. The Aces hammered out 11 hits on the evening, three of the home run variety. Kaleb Fleck and Matt Stites were stout in relief, allowing just one hit in two innings of work.
It was a pitcher's duel from Greater Nevada Field for the better part of four innings. Las Vegas righty Rafael Montero got the nod for skipper Pedro Lopez. Montero cruised through the first three innings, allowing just two hits. A leadoff single by Jeremy Hazelbaker, followed by a Jack Reinheimer walk put runners on first and second with no outs. A routine double-play ball hit to first baseman Dominic Smith turned into a throwing error, scoring Hazelbaker and putting a speedy Reinheimer at third. Carlos Rivero would tack on RBI number 31 with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Reno would score another in the fifth inning. Ketel Marte launched a solo shot off Montero, his second of the 2017 season to bring the Aces lead to 3-0. Aaron Laffey responded with a quick one-two-three top of the sixth inning. The lefty would allow his only two runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning, closing out his line at 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, and 5 K's.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Aces offense exploded. Reno sent 12 batters to the plate and recorded six hits en route to a six-run inning. Both Ildemaro Vargas (4) and Oswaldo Arcia (12) sent balls over the outfield wall. Hazelbaker, Reinheimer and Sócrates Brito notched consecutive base hits in the inning, and Zach Borenstein smoked a RBI double to finish the onslaught.
The win gives the Aces 34 on the season, most in the Pacific Coast League. Reno will take on Las Vegas again from Greater Nevada Field tomorrow night. D-backs number one prospect Anthony Banda will get the start on the mound for skipper Greg Gross. The Reno Aces will host Saint Mary's "Home Run for Life" ceremony, featuring Jamie Jost, who battled breast cancer as well tomorrow night.
Jost will round the bases commemorating her "Home Run for Life" in the middle of the second inning Friday night. The Reno Aces and Las Vegas 51s players and staff will be lined up along each baseline to greet Jost as she makes her way toward home plate while her story of adversity and triumph is publicly announced to the stadium crowd. Greater Nevada Field gates open at 6:05 p.m. on Friday, June 2. 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.
