Reno Opens Series Strong, Settle for Split with Isotopes

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces (24-27) split their six-game homestand with the Albuquerque Isotopes (22-28), the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, this past week at Greater Nevada Field. Reno came out hot with three straight wins to open the series but couldn’t carry that momentum into the weekend, dropping the final three contests.

The Aces opened the series with a dramatic win on Tuesday night. Holding a 6-2 lead entering the ninth inning, the Isotopes rallied for four runs to tie the game. However, Ildemaro Vargas played the hero in the bottom half of the inning, driving in Jake McCarthy with a walk-off RBI single to snap Reno’s seven-game losing streak. Aramis Garcia and Trey Mancini powered the offense with the long ball—Garcia launched a no-doubt three-run blast in the first inning, and Mancini followed with a solo shot in the third, his seventh of the season.

Reno repeated the walk-off magic on Wednesday, this time courtesy of Connor Kaiser. Trailing by one entering the ninth, the BLC-Nine mounted a comeback as Garcia, Cristian Pache, and Any Weber reached base to set the stage. Kaiser came through with a clutch two-run double to centerfield, sealing back-to-back walk-off victories. Garcia homered for the second straight night with a solo shot in the fifth inning, while Blaze Alexander tied the game in the seventh with a two-run bomb. On the mound, Cristian Mena delivered five strong innings, allowing three unearned runs with six strikeouts and no walks.

The Aces capped off the winning for the week with an 8-4 victory on Thursday. Tommy Henry picked up his first win of the season, limiting Albuquerque to two runs on five hits and two walks over six solid innings. AJ Vukovich provided the offensive highlight, crushing a go-ahead grand slam off Bradley Blalock in the fifth. Tristin English, returning from the injured list, made an immediate impact by going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Unfortunately, Reno couldn’t maintain their momentum, falling in the final three games of the series to settle for a split with the Isotopes.

Aramis Garcia was a standout performer throughout the series, going 6-for-17 (.353) with three home runs and six RBI. The veteran backstop has recently anchored the Aces’ lineup, delivering clutch power and consistent production. He’s been on a tear in May, slashing .311/.380/.778 with seven home runs and 13 RBI in just 13 games.

Reno now hits the road for a six-game set against the Round Rock Express, the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The series begins Tuesday, May 27, with the first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PST.

Single-game tickets for the Reno Aces’ 2025 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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