Aces Grab Lead Twice on Sunday, but El Paso Splits Set

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces scored just one batter into their first set of swings and took the lead twice during the game, but in the end a 7-4 win by the El Paso Chihuahuas on Sunday meant a split in their six-game set.

In the final day of the series the Aces (20-19/52-62) kicked off the scoring, doing so with a bang from Kristian Robinson. Diggin in to lead off the home half of the first, Robinson launched a 3-1 cutter from Joe Musgrove a total of 368 feet over the wall in right field.

That blast represented the fifth leadoff home run of the season for Reno, but Robinson is the first Ace to do it more than once. Additionally, it was the third of his professional career, and the first leadoff homer by an Ace since Anderdson Rojas on July 9 against Round Rock.

It took until the top of the fifth for the Chihuahuas (12-26/47-67) to draw level, pulling even with a home run of their own when Blake Hunt hit his ninth of the season.

Reno pulled back in front for a second time two innings later in the bottom of the sixth, pulling back in front on a Danny Serretti sacrifice fly while Gavin Conticello delivered a two-RBI single in the subsequent at-bat that pushed the score to 4-1.

However, that lead failed to hold through the top of the seventh as El Paso saw Carlos Rodriguez clear a bases loaded situation with a triple to right field. A throwing error saw the next run of the inning cross the plate, while No. 1 prospect for San Diego Ethan Salas hit his second homer in two-run fashion out to right field.

The Aces were able to find one final tally in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of a Pavin Smith sacrifice fly, but that would just bring the score to its final of 7-4.

Bryce Jarvis served as an opener for the Aces today and tossed two scoreless innings, though he did allow three hits and a walk with one strikeout. Dylan Ray entered the following frame and allowed only a single run on two hits with three strikeouts in three innings, but the loss was charged to Antonio Menedez (1-4) after he allowed six runs on two hits with four walks and no strikeouts in just 0.1 innings of work.

Manuel Pena and Conticello were the only two Aces to finish with multiple hits, each logging three hits with the former going 3-for-5 with a double and run scored. Meanwhile, the latter ended his day 3-for-4 and drove in a run.

The loss prevented a series win for Reno and instead resulted in a set split, meaning the Aces will have to wait for next week’s series against Tacoma to get back in the series win column. That series begins on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 12:05 p.m. PT.