Aces Welcomes Sacramento for the First Time in 2023
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Aces (3-5) welcome their closest Pacific Coast League rival, the Sacramento River Cats (4-5), Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, to Greater Nevada Field for the first time in 2023, beginning on Tuesday, April 11th, for a six-game series this week. Sacramento took the
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Aces (3-5) welcome their closest Pacific Coast League rival, the Sacramento River Cats (4-5), Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, to Greater Nevada Field for the first time in 2023, beginning on Tuesday, April 11th, for a six-game series this week.
Sacramento took the season series 15-13 in 2022, with the teams scheduled to meet 24 more times this season. After dropping two of three to the Salt Lake Bees over the weekend, the River Cats split the six-game home series against the El Paso Chihuahuas.
The River Cats roster features two of the top three prospects within the San Francisco Giants organization: left-handed starting pitcher Kyle Harrison and third baseman Casey Schmitt.
Harrison, the Giants’ top pitching prospect and No. 2 overall according to Baseball America, will throw for Sacramento in the series. The 21-year-old southpaw from Concord, Calif., split the 2022 campaign between High-A Eugene and Double-A Richmond. In 25 starts, he went 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 113.0 innings pitched.
Baseball America named Schmitt as San Francisco’s No. 3 prospect in the organization. Last season the San Diego State product climbed three ladders within the Giants system. In 126 games, he hit .293/.365/.489 with 48 extra-base hits (21 homers), 78 RBI, and 72 runs scored.
Former MLB all-star catcher Gary Sanchez looks to return to big-league form while playing with the River Cats after signing a minor-league deal with San Francisco. The River Cats will also have Giants backstop Joey Bart, who’s on the roster while rehabbing an injury.
The Aces enter its series with the River Cats following an up-and-down trip to Tacoma. Reno erupted for 19 runs in a blowout win Saturday, ending a tough stretch for the club. During their five-game losing streak, the Aces tallied just 13 runs, while the pitching staff posted a 9.85 ERA.
Reno’s pitching staff has a prime opportunity to get back on track at home as the River Cats ranked 9th out of 10 PCL teams last season in OPS (.777). The offense is off to a similar start in 2023, posting a .742 OPS through their first seven games.
Aces starter Tommy Henry posted a 2.05 ERA in four starts against Sacramento last year, striking out 20 River Cats in 22 innings. Henry owns a 7.20 ERA through two starts this season.
Buddy Kennedy looks to extend his hot start of the 2023 season as the Millville, N.J. native ranks in the top five in Triple-A in four offensive categories. He leads Triple-A in OPS (1.683), is second in OBP (.630) and SLG (1.053), and is fourth in batting average (.474).
The six-game series begins Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. PT at Greater Nevada Field.
Single Game tickets for the Reno Aces’ 2023 season are on sale at RenoAces.com, the Greater Nevada Field Ticket Office, or by texting “TIXX” to 21003. Season Memberships are available via RenoAces.com, texting “MEMBER” to 21003, or calling (775) 334-7000.
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