Reno Holds Their Ground Against First-Place Las Vegas, Split Six-Game Homestand

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces (21-18) split their six-game homestand this past week at Greater Nevada Field against the Las Vegas Aviators (26-13), the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. With the split, the Aces are now tied for third place in the Pacific Coast League with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.

The BLC-Nine secured their first of three victories on Wednesday with a dominant 11-3 win, fueled by three-hit performances from Jake McCarthy and Ildemaro Vargas. McCarthy continued to set the tone atop the Aces lineup, driving in two runs with a pair of doubles. Vargas enjoyed a strong night of his own, blasting his fourth home run of the season. Michael Perez made an impact in his 2025 season debut, collecting two hits, including a game-tying RBI double in the second inning. The veteran backstop, who was a key contributor for Reno in 2024 with a slash line of .354/.444/.622 along with 10 doubles, four home runs, and 13 RBI in 24 games, looks poised to continue making an impact both offensively and defensively this season.

Trey Mancini played hero in Friday’s 7-6 extra-inning victory, crushing a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th to secure the Aces' second win of the series. Mancini also opened the scoring in the first inning, driving in Jordan Lawlar with an RBI single. Before his game-winning blast, the Aces had clawed back from a three-run deficit, sparked by Aramis Garcia and Connor Kaiser. Kaiser ignited the comeback in the seventh inning, snapping a five-inning scoring drought with a solo homer into the right-field bleachers, his second of the year. Garcia later tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run blast over the left-field porch. Reno’s bullpen played a pivotal role, holding the Aviators to just one unearned run over the final four innings to keep the game within reach.

Reno’s third and final win of the series came in Saturday’s narrow 10-9 triumph, powered once again by their offense. Garcia, Kaiser, and Vargas all homered for the second time in the series, providing the firepower the Aces needed. Garcia delivered another clutch shot in the fifth, a three-run homer that gave Reno a temporary lead before Las Vegas tied it later in the top half of the sixth. Kaiser delivered the game-winning RBI with his second home run in as many days, a solo shot in the sixth that put Reno ahead for good. Vargas added his fifth home run of the season, a no-doubt 419-foot blast off the batter’s eye in center field. Christian Montes De Oca closed out the win for Reno, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.

Mancini capped off a fantastic series, leading the Aces with 10 hits, including two extra-base hits and five RBI. Heading into next week’s road trip to Sugar Land, the veteran first baseman has logged three consecutive three-hit games. Serving as the anchor of Reno’s lineup in the three or four-hole, Mancini recently wrapped up a dominant month of April, hitting .317/.369/.495 with nine doubles, three home runs, and 19 RBI in 24 games. He’ll look to keep his hot streak alive against the Space Cowboys.

The Aces will now hit the road to face the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The six-game series is set to begin on Tuesday, May 13, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. PST.

Single-game tickets 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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