Walker Homers Twice In Aces Series Win Over Express

RENO, Nev. - The Reno Aces (25-16) took the series over the Round Rock Express (16-25) with a 14-4 game four victory Thursday afternoon at Greater Nevada Field. Christian Walker collected his twelfth multi-hit game and second multi-home run game of the season after going 2-for-4 with four RBI. Eric Jokisch (3-0) notched his first quality Aces start after six and two-third innings of six-hit, three-run ball with five strikeouts en route to his third straight win.<o:p>
The Aces got into an offensive rhythm early in the contest once again, totaling seven runs in the second inning on four extra-base hits, including Walker's eleventh home run of the season. In the next inning, the Aces added another two runs initiated by Jack Reinheimer's leadoff home run, his fourth of the season, to make it a 9-0 Aces advantage.

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Moving to the fourth, the Express, who only had two hits off of Jokisch entering the inning, got hot quickly after three straight singles by Jurickson Profar, Ronald Guzman and Brett Nicholas to load the bases. Following a walk by Drew Stubbs to plate Round Rock's first run, Travis Snider added a RBI single and Preston Beck sailed a sacrifice fly ball to decrease the Aces advantage to 9-3. <o:p>
In the sixth, after 14 straight outs recorded since the top of the fourth inning ended, Walker broke the silence with his second home run of the game (12), making him the current home run and RBI (46) leader in the Pacific Coast League. <o:p>
The Aces added a solo run in the seventh without a hit after three walks and a wild pitch. Similarly, the Express tacked on their last tally in the eighth after four walks to make it 11-4. <o:p>
With a seven-run lead, Reno rallied one last time in the bottom of the eighth with three runs on three hits to bring the final total to 14-4. <o:p>
Three Aces relievers - Rubby De La Rosa, Matt Stites and Ivan Pineyro - combined for two and two-third innings of two-hit, one-run ball. Ildemaro Vargas, Jack Reinheimer and Ronnie Freeman all recorded a multi-RBI day while Ketel Marte extended his hitting streak to 18 games with his 20th multi-hit game.  <o:p>
The Aces hit the road for an eight-game road trip to take on the Omaha Storm Chasers and Iowa Cubs of the American North division beginning tomorrow, May 19. Reno returns to Greater Nevada Field with a four-game set against the Sacramento River Cats over Memorial Day weekend starting on May 27 at 6:35 p.m. Season memberships 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. <o:p>
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