Reno Settles for Split in Sugar Land

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces (27-24, 71-55) pitched well but had to settle for a series split with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (17-34, 50-76) this week at Constellation Field.

Ryne Nelson fired seven fantastic innings in Tuesday’s series opener. Nelson re-joined the Aces last week at Greater Nevada Field, allowed one earned run, and held the Space Cowboys to two hits. The former Oregon Duck hopes to stabilize the rotation following a mid-summer shakeup. Nelson’s excellence wasn’t enough to overshadow the Aces floundering Aces' offense. The BLC Nine scattered three hits in 32 at-bats while going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Ali Sánchez crushed a solo homer that scored Reno's only run of the night. Sánchez has blown past his previous professional high in home runs (10) and went 15 for his first 46 with two doubles and two homers to kick off August. The 26-year-old backstop is thriving in an expanded role both at the plate and behind it. Sánchez is on pace to set career marks in nearly every statistical category, including home runs, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

Wednesday was another completely dominant night for Kyle Lewis at the plate. With the Aces offense flummoxed for much of the evening, the talented young slugger obliterated a monstrous three-run homer to pull his squad within one in the eighth. Lewis has homered 16 times in his first 51 games with Reno and entered Sunday tied for second in Triple-A in OPS among those with at least 200 plate appearances. Lewis is having the best Minor League season of his esteemed career, setting his MiLB high in home runs (16) while posting incredible marks in batting average and OPS.

Lewis wasn’t finished with just one gargantuan swing. The former American League Rookie of the Year slashed a single up the middle to put the Aces in front in the ninth. Jordan Lawlar reached three times in the game, including in the heroic ninth. Lawlar has at least one knock in 19 of his last 21 games between Reno and Double-A Amarillo. The 21-year-old top 10 global prospect has been tremendous in his first 10 Triple-A games with a triple, two homers, and two steals in three tries.

Reno carried its late-game approach into Thursday’s win when Lewis homered again, and all nine Aces starters reached base at least once. It was an all-encompassing, full-team approach for Reno’s offense with a mix of patience, power, and speed. Jorge Barrosa led off the third with a walk, stole his 13th bag of the season, and scored on Phillip Evans’ 997th career Minor League hit.

The first seven in Reno’s order reached on base at least twice in Friday night’s 8-2 win. McCarthy went 4-for-4 with two free passes out of the leadoff spot, while Pavin Smith reached four times from the three-hole, including an RBI double in the seventh. Lawlar posted his second multi-hit game since the promotion, and Lewis and Emmanuel Rivera tallied two knocks each. Reno’s lineup deposited 13 hits and drew an additional eight walks in their third straight win.

Rivera crushed a game-tying homer late in Sunday’s series finale, adding to an already fantastic day at the plate. Rivera reached three times while Lawlar went 2-for-3 with a single, a triple, and a hit-by-pitch. Despite their heroics, Reno cracked late in a 4-2 loss. The Aces return home next for a six-game series with the El Paso Chihuahuas (23-28, 55-71), the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The set begins Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. PT from Greater Nevada Field.

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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