Round Rock Outlasts Reno 10-6 in 10 Innings

RENO, Nevada - The Round Rock Express (16-24) bats came to life on Wednesday night, scoring 10 runs on 11 hits, en route to a 10-6 win over the Reno Aces (24-16) after 10 innings of play at Greater Nevada Field. E-Train C Brett Hayes finished the game 4-5 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
Express RHP Preston Claiborne (2-0, 2.30) earned the win after 2.2 dominant innings of relief. The closer issued just one hit while striking out three. Aces RHP Kaleb Fleck (0-2, 4.44) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on three hits and a walk in the 10th inning.
Neither team's starting pitcher made it past the sixth as Round Rock RHP Brady Dragmire surrendered five runs, only four of which were earned, on six hits in four innings. He struck out three while walking one. Reno LHP Anthony Banda permitted six runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings.
Both teams dropped a four-spot in the first inning. The first three Express hitters reached base safely as CF Drew Robinson and RF Drew Stubbs collected back-to-back walks before SS Jurickson Profar singled to score the first run of the night. After a Ronald Guzmán lineout, LF César Puello and Hayes teamed up for back-to-back doubles that extended the E-Train lead to 4-0.
However, the Aces tied the game in the bottom of the frame. SS Ildemaro Vargas kicked things off with a single before consecutive one-out base hits courtesy of 1B Christian Walker and 3B Jeremy Hazelbaker put Reno on the board. 3B Carlos Rivero then cleared the bases with a triple before leveling the game at 4-4 on a Zach Borenstein sacrifice fly.
The E-Train grabbed the lead right back in the third inning. Profar notched a leadoff single but was erased at second on a Guzman fielder's choice out. Puello, Hayes and DH Preston Beck then slapped three straight singles, scoring a pair of runs in the process.
Reno edged closer in the fourth. CF Jack Reinheimer started the inning with a single before promptly stealing second base. A clutch two-out single off the bat of Vargas cut the Express lead to 6-5.
A costly mistake allowed the Aces to level the game once again in the seventh inning. With RHP James Dykstra on for his third inning of relief, DH Ketel Marte extended his Pacific Coast League-best hitting streak to 17 straight games with a one-out single. He then moved to second on a Walker groundout. In the next at-bat, Hazlebaker poked a towering fly ball to deep left field. Despite being camped under the offering, the ball deflected off Puello's glove for a run-scoring error.
In the 10th, Stubbs worked a leadoff walk before immediately stealing second base. Profar then laid down a picture-perfect sacrifice bunt that moved Stubbs to third. In the next plate appearance, Guzman lined a shot to Vargas that the shortstop misplayed, allowing Stubbs to score the go-ahead run while Guzman took first base safely.
Back-to-back singles courtesy of Puello and Hayes loaded the bases for Beck. The outfielder delivered with a two-run single that pushed the lead to 9-6. An ensuing Luis Marté fielder's choice out eliminated Beck at second base but allowed Hayes to sprint home with Round Rock's 10th and final run of the night.
Claiborne saved his best work for last, striking out a pair of batters in a perfect 10th, his third inning of relief on the night. Round Rock and Reno are set to wrap up their four-game series on Thursday afternoon. Express RHP Tyler Wagner (1-3, 6.95) is scheduled to start against Aces LHP Eric Jokisch (2-0, 7.03). First pitch at Greater Nevada Field is slated for 1:35 p.m.
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