Aces to square off with Aviators in final home series of 2021

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces will look to rebound in the second half of the Final Stretch when they take on the Las Vegas Aviators in the last showdown of 2021.

Despite entering the series having lost four of five to the Albuquerque Isotopes, Blake Lalli’s club has had success against its interstate rival, holding a 15-9 record against Las Vegas and outscoring the opposition, 195-159, over the 24 contests. The Aces are also boasting a .323/.391/.558 slash line while racking up 112 of the team’s 529 extra-base hits against the squad from Summerlin.

Hummel will look to continue his successful September offensive showing in the final slate of the year. The 26-year-old enters the series on a three-game hitting streak and has put forth a .474/.522/.829 slash line in 20 starts this month. The Aces’ utilityman has racked up 36 base knocks, 28 tallies and 26 RBIs to go along with 15 multi-hit contests in September.

Alek Thomas has continued to prove why he is the No. 3-rated prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. The Aces’ outfielder is riding a 12-game hitting streak into the final five contests, boasting a .491/.550/.962 slash line with 26 hits, 16 runs scored, five home runs, four doubles and a trio of triples. The 21-year-old has also registered 19 multi-hit games in 33 starts since being called up in the middle of August.

Thomas joined Hummel, Drew Ellis and Jake Hager as the only players to go deep against the Isotopes to open the Final Stretch. With four dingers through five contests, Reno has raised $200 for District 1 Little League in Northern Nevada.

Jesus Liranzo continued his dominance out of the Aces’ bullpen, posting a pair of scoreless outings while picking up his second save of the season in Sunday’s victory. The right-hander has not allowed a run in seven consecutive appearances and eight straight innings, allowing just four base knocks and punching out nine batters over that stretch. Since Aug. 1, the 26-year-old has recorded a 1.62 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 15 appearances that span 16.2 frames of action.

Through 123 games this season, Blake Lalli’s club remains atop Triple-A as an offensive powerhouse. Reno leads Minor League Baseball’s top level in batting average (.294), runs scored (870), hits (1275), doubles (287), triples (49), RBIs (814), on-base percentage (.374), slugging percentage (.518) and on-base plus slugging (.892). Of the nine Triple-A-leading categories, the team from Northern Nevada also paces MiLB in tallies, base knocks, two-baggers, RBIs, slugging and OPS.

Against the team from Summerlin, Ellis and Juniel Querecuto pace Reno’s lineup offensively in their respective 22 appearances. The Aces’ third baseman has racked up a team-leading 25 hits, 23 runs scored, eight doubles and five home runs versus Las Vegas. Querecuto nearly matched his infield counterpart with 24 base knocks while logging a squad-best 19 RBIs and three triples.

Las Vegas enters the five-game slate having won two straight against Oklahoma City after dropping the first three contests by a combined score of 30-11.

Francisco Pena has been the Aviators’ best hitter against the Aces this season, going 24-for-74 (.324) in 20 appearances. The catcher has racked up 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored while smashing four homers.

Aviators’ relievers James Naile and Tim Anderson have caused the most problems for Reno in 2021. The pair have made 15 combined appearances against the Aces, hurling 17.2 innings and allowing eight runs on 23 hits while striking out 12 batters.

Reno will return to Greater Nevada Field on Wednesday, taking on the Las Vegas Aviators in the final series of 2021. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. PT and can be heard on renoaces.com or locally on KPLY 630 AM with Zack Bayrouty on the call.