SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. - The Reno Aces took on the Pacific Southern Division-leading Salt Lake Bees Wednesday evening from Smith's Ballpark. Southpaw Eric Jokisch got the start on the mound for Reno, entering the game with a 3-3 record and 5.95 ERA. Jokisch finished with 6.0 IP, six K's
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. - The Reno Aces took on the Pacific Southern Division-leading Salt Lake Bees Wednesday evening from Smith's Ballpark. Southpaw Eric Jokisch got the start on the mound for Reno, entering the game with a 3-3 record and 5.95 ERA. Jokisch finished with 6.0 IP, six K's and allowed one run on just three hits. Offensively, the Aces were led by first baseman Christian Walker who finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Walker's two RBI gives him 65 on the year, most in the Pacific Coast League.
Reno wasted little time getting into the scoring column, plating two in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles from Ketel Marte and Oswaldo Arcia set the table for the PCL RBI leader Christian Walker. The University of South Carolina product delivered with a two-run double off the center field wall. In the second inning, Zach Borenstein drew a four-pitch walk to lead it off. Kristopher Negrón followed with a RBI triple, his fourth three-bagger of the season. Catcher Hank Conger then drove in Negron with an RBI-single to extend the Aces lead to four.
Eric Jokisch cruised through his entire start. The left-hander faced just 21 batters in his six innings of work, allowing just three hits on the evening. Entering tonight's contest, Jokisch's season-high of strikeouts was five (twice, Round Rock 5/18 and Las Vegas 6/3). Jokisch threw 91 pitches, 62 strikes good for K percentage of 68%. The southpaw passed the ball to hard-throwing right-hander Jake Barrett in the bottom of the seventh.
Barrett would get the bullpen rolling with a scoreless inning. Rubby De La Rosa came on in the bottom of the eighth and spun a perfect one-two-three inning. Daniel Gibson came in for Reno in the bottom of the ninth but would get tagged for two runs on three hits before interim manager Greg Gross would make the change to closer Jimmie Sherfy. Sherfy closed the door on Salt Lake, picking up his eighth save of the season.
The 5-3 win over Salt Lake this evening gives the Aces 41 on the season, most in the Pacific Coast League. Both Reno and Salt Lake remain in first place in their respective divisions and will square off two more times from Smith's Ballpark this series. Reno returns to Greater Nevada Field on June 17th 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.
