Aces Drop Six-Game Homestand to Round Rock Despite Monster Week from Lawlar

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces (10-11) dropped their six-game homestand to the Round Rock Express (11-10), the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, this week at Greater Nevada Field. The Express took four out of six matchups from the Aces.

Reno opened the series with a bang in Tuesday’s 5-4 thriller. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Rene Pinto played hero, launching a two-run walk-off homer to lift the Aces to victory. It was Reno’s first walk-off win of the season. Jordan Lawlar and Jorge Barrosa got the offense rolling early, going back-to-back with solo shots in the first inning — both their third home runs of the year.

The BLC-Nine’s second and final win came in Friday’s 11-3 offensive outburst. Reno exploded for eight runs in the third inning to take control of the game. Barrosa sparked the rally with an RBI single to right, scoring A.J. Vukovich, and later added another RBI with a double in the eighth. Pinto stayed locked in at the plate, capping the big third inning with a two-run double that brought home Blaze Alexander and Vukovich. Lawlar wasn’t involved in the third-inning outburst, but still had a strong night at the dish, going 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Lawlar was electric all series. The 22-year-old top prospect looked every bit like one of the best players in Minor League Baseball, going 9-for-22 (.409) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, and nine RBIs, good for a 1.000 slugging percentage. He’s in the best stretch of his Aces career, slashing .410/.489/.974 over his last 10 games with 11 extra-base hits, five homers, and 13 RBIs. During that span, he leads the Pacific Coast League in home runs, RBIs, slugging, OPS (1.463), extra-base hits, and total bases (38). Arizona’s prized infielder heads into next week’s homestand against Albuquerque riding a red-hot streak as he makes his case for a return to the big leagues.

Pinto, meanwhile, turned in a strong series of his own. Beyond his walk-off blast, the Aces catcher slashed .333/.412/.800 with a double, two home runs, and six RBIs against the Express. Over his last seven games, he’s gone 9-for-27 (.333) with four home runs and 11 RBIs.

The Aces will now welcome the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, to Greater Nevada Field. The six-game series is set to begin on Tuesday, April 22, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 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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