Aces Late-Inning Rally Give Reno Eight-Game Division Lead

RENO, NV. - With 6,739 fans in attendance, the Reno Aces looked to rebound from a 13-6 loss to Tacoma. Both teams faced off at Greater Nevada Field Saturday, with the four-game series split 1-1. D-backs number one prospect Anthony Banda entered tonight's contest with a 6-4 record. Christian Bergman (Tacoma) also entered the game with an impressive 5-0 record and 2.17 ERA of his own, making quite the pitcher's duel on the mound.
The Rainiers got to Banda early in the 2nd inning with a RBI double from Tyler Smith, his 33rd of the year, and a RBI single from Zach Shank lifted Tacoma to a 2-0 advantage. Bergman kept the bottom of the 2nd inning scoreless, keeping the 2-0 lead in Tacoma's grasp. 

Ronnie Freeman hit into a double play that advanced Zach Borenstein home in the 3rd inning to slice the Reno deficit to just one run. With Tacoma holding on to a slim 2-1 lead heading into the 4th, Banda ended the top of the 4th inning with two straight strikeouts, giving him six through four innings.
Action resumed in a big way during the 5th inning, as Borenstein launched his 10th long ball of the season 442 feet to put the Aces up by a score of 3-2. Christian Walker added onto the Reno lead with a two-RBI single, making the score 5-2 in the Aces favor. During the five-hit, four-run rally, Bergman was relieved of his duties by Nick Hagadone who stopped the bleeding with a line drive to right field.
Banda continued to roll on the mound; forcing an easy pop fly that capped off four straight scoreless innings and retiring thirteen batters in a row, keeping the 5-2 lead firmly in their control. After a solid outing (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 7 K's), Banda was relieved in the 7th by Erik Davis.
With the game coming to a close, Daniel Vogelbach's three-run blast to deep right in the 8th put the Rainiers back in the game. Tying the game at 5-runs apiece, making it nine home runs on the year for Vogelbach.
The tides soon turned in the Aces' favor the next half inning, as Ildemaro Vargas' sacrifice fly off of Pat Light scored Borenstein, putting them up 6-5. With two runners patrolling the bases, Arcia took Light deep to left for his 17th big fly of the year. Capping off another four-run inning with one swing of the bat, making the score 9-5 with one final inning left of play. Erik Davis recorded his sixth win of the season, improving his record to a perfect 6-0.
With the win, Reno moves to 47-29 and eight games up on the Tacoma Rainiers in the division standings. They will conclude the four-game series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are on-sale now at www.renoaces.com or by calling (775) 334-4700. Follow the club all season long on Twitter (@Aces) or like the team on Facebook.