Aces Return Home for Silver State Diamond Challenge Against Aviators

After a road trip against the Tacoma Rainiers, the Reno Aces return to Greater Nevada Field for a six-game homestand against in-state rival, the Las Vegas Aviators (20-16), Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, starting Tuesday, May 17.

The Aces have won the last two games and are coming off a six-game road series against the Tacoma Rainiers, where Reno won the series four games to two.

SCOUTING LAS VEGAS

The Aviators recently faced the Salt Lake Bees in a six-game homestand and won three games to split the series.

Shea Langeliers has supplied the lumber for the Aviators this season with 11 homers, which ranks second in the Pacific Coast League. The No. 2 prospect in the A’s organization is slashing .298/.392/.605 and leads the team with 26 runs batted in (tied for sixth in PCL). In March, Langeliers was part of the prospect package the Atlanta Braves sent in the blockbuster trade for Matt Olson.

Including Langeliers, the Aviators’ roster includes five top-30 prospects: infielder Nick Allen (4), right-handed pitcher Adrian Martinez (21), outfielder Cody Thomas (25) and right-handed pitcher Adam Oller (28).

Infielder Nate Mondou has been a tough out for opposing pitchers and ranks ninth in the PCL with a .412 on-base percentage. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon is hitting at a .305 clip and has driven in 19 runs.

On the mound for the Aviators, Jared Koenig is tied for the league lead in wins with a 3-2 record and tops the PCL in ERA (2.36). In 34.1 innings pitched, the southpaw has struck out a league-high 42 batters.

ACES HIGH

When the Aces faced the Aviators last month in the season-opening series, Camden Duzenack had a strong showing at the plate with a .474 (9-for-19) performance with two homers and six runs batted in. Ryne Nelson made two starts on the mound and dealt eight innings of two-run ball with 13 strikeouts.

Jake McCarthy continued to rake last week against Tacoma and hit .385 (10-for-26) with a homer, five runs batted in and three stolen bases in six games.

Buddy Kennedy played in five games against the Rainiers and hit .333 (6-for-18) with three runs batted in, two stolen bases and drew four walks. Kennedy is hitting .303 in May with one homer and eight runs batted in 10 games played.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Organizational Player of the Month, Stone Garrett, proved why he earned the April accolade with a 7-for-24 (.292) performance in six games played against Tacoma with two homers (including a go-ahead solo smash Sunday night), drove in six runs, scored five times and stole three bases.

Nelson earned his first Triple-A win of the season Wednesday with five innings of two-run ball on six hits with four strikeouts.

Taylor Widener had his best outing of the season Thursday with a two-inning gem, allowed no runs on one hit, and struck out five batters out of the bullpen.

As a team, the Aces lead the league in doubles (65) and rank second in stolen bases (51) and saves (9).

Both teams square off on Tuesday, May 17, with the first pitch at 6:35 pm PST.