Aces Open Six-Game Series with Scrappy Chihuahuas
RENO, Nev. – Two of the top five offenses in Triple-A meet this week as the Reno Aces (28-17) travel to take on the El Paso Chihuahuas (19-26), the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, at Southwest University Park. The Aces are fresh off an emphatic series win over
RENO, Nev. – Two of the top five offenses in Triple-A meet this week as the Reno Aces (28-17) travel to take on the El Paso Chihuahuas (19-26), the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, at Southwest University Park.
The Aces are fresh off an emphatic series win over the River Cats, beating up their pitching staff with 63 runs. El Paso, meanwhile, has lost seven of its last 10 with a lineup failing to match its early season production.
After beating the Express in the first three games of last week’s series in Round Rock, the Chihuahuas dropped three in a row and settled for a split. El Paso scored only 11 total runs in the three losses and has averaged 5.4 runs over the last 10 games. Despite their recent struggles, the Chihuahuas rank fifth in Triple-A in OPS (.838), and runs scored (277).
Reno’s lineup has been nothing short of fantastic. The Aces have won 23 of their last 31 games and continue to punish opposing pitchers. Tristin English is hitting .347 with a 1.099 OPS in 14 games since his promotion to Triple-A, earning PCL Player of the Week honors with a monstrous series against Sacramento.
Phillip Evans and Buddy Kennedy went a combined 15-for-37 (.405) with six doubles, a triple, and 10 walks last week. The forceful duo ranks first and second in Triple-A in both batting average and on-base percentage. Reno’s catching trio of Ali Sánchez, P.J. Higgins, and Dominic Miroglio combined for 21 hits in the series.
El Paso’s lineup also requires careful navigation. Preston Tucker and Alfonso Rivas III each sport an OPS over 1.000, while Tim Lopes checks in at .893. Tucker is slugging .600, the fourth-highest mark in the PCL. As a team, El Paso ranks fifth in Triple-A in doubles (91) and eighth in home runs (60).
Run prevention has been a consistent issue for the floundering Chihuahuas. The pitching staff ranks 26th in Triple-A in ERA (6.02). The rotation ranks 29th (6.68), while the bullpen is tied for 19th (5.38).
No El Paso pitcher with at least five starts has an ERA below 5.63. That’s far from the case with Reno, as Blake Walston continues to impress. Walston lowered his ERA to 2.60 last week and owns a 1.63 ERA with 25 strikeouts over his previous five starts. It’ll be strength on strength with the Chihuahuas leading Triple-A in OPS vs. left-handed pitching (.938).
The six-game series begins Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. at Southwest University Park.
Reno will return to Greater Nevada field on Tuesday, June 6, to square off against the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
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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