Aces’ Comeback Attempt Falls Just Shy in Ninth Against Isotopes

RENO, Nev. – It took until the ninth inning for the Reno Aces to hit the scoreboard, plating two runs in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a single and pair of walks, but in the end the Albuquerque Isotopes held strong to take the game one win by a 3-2 final.

Offense was hard to come by for the Aces (29-34/61-77) for most of the night, as they logged just two hits in the game prior to the final frame. Both of the hits were singles, the first from Santiago Espinal to leadoff the home half of the first while Pavin Smith added a one-out knock in the fourth.

With their final set of swings Reno pushed across their two runs, doing so with just one more hit in the inning as Espinal once more had a leadoff single into center. Three walks loaded the bases and forced in a run, while the second tally came courtesy a sacrifice fly to center by Gavin Conticello.

Though it did not take much, the Isotopes (29-35/68-71) plated two in the second and one in the fourth to take their lead, one they held through the rest of the contest. Albuquerque had the chance to add insurance after loading the bases in the top of the eighth but failed to capitalize and had to hold through the nail-biting ending.

This was the third straight contest that the Aces have been held to three hits or fewer, marking the first time in franchise history they have had a trio of hits or fewer in three straight games. Even further, this was the ninth time this season they failed to record an extra-base hit in a game, but the first time it has happened consecutively after also going without in Sunday’s series finale with Sugar Land.

Two of those three hits came from Espinal, his fifth multi-hit effort in just 11 games with Reno. Reno did generate some more action on the basepaths by working five total walks.

Making the start for Reno on a rehab appearance was right-hander Ryne Nelson, who worked just one inning and punched out two of the three batters he faced. His successor, Kohl Drake, was charged with the loss after he allowed all three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two.

Currently on a three-game slide, the Aces will look to flip their fortunes in game two of their series on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. PT from Greater Nevada Field.