Aces Shine All Around, Close 2026 with Impressive Win over River Cats

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sunday’s series and season finale was one the Reno Aces can feel good about going into the offseason as Reno captured their third straight win over the Sacramento River Cats with a pair of big hits and stellar pitching, all culminating in a 4-1 win on the final day of 2026.

Through three innings the Aces (34-39/66-82) had yet to record a hit, but their first came in a big way and gave them the lead as Adrian Del Castillo launched his eighth Triple-A homer of the season in two-run fashion out to right field. Scoring on the play was Santiago Espinal, who had worked a walk directly in front of Del Castillo.

That had overcome the first run of the game which was tallied by the River Cats (37-37/79-67) when Fernando Gonzalez struck for a solo homer on a deep fly to left field.

Other than that dinger, Reno starter Ashton Izzi (2-4) did not allow a run and checked out after five frames while punching out six without a walk. That effort made him the fifth Ace to reach those marks this season, but the third in this series against Sacramento after Yu-Min Lin (Sept. 16) and Jose Cabrera (Sept. 18) each did so previously.

For the second time in the game the Aces produced a two-run frame, with both scoring on one swing of the bat in the seventh. This time the culprit was Kristian Robinson as he ripped a ball to deep right field that rolled into the corner, but Robinson was thrown out trying to stretch a double into three bases.

Reno continued to keep their foot on the gas in that inning, loaded the bases immediately after Robinson was caught trying to advance. However, one final strikeout brought an end to the inning without any more damage.

A familiar sight was the Reno bullpen locking down the game in dominant fashion, as they worked the final four frames while holding the River Cats without a hit or run. Ryan Thompson, appearing on rehab, entered first and punched out two while walking one.

Blake Walston followed and struck out one of his three batters, and Landon Sims danced around danger but induced a double play with the bases loaded to escape the eighth. On to close the door was Jonatan Bernal (S, 1), who worked a clean ninth inning while striking out one to convert his first career Triple-A save.

Not only did today’s victory end the season on a high note, but it also handed the Aces their first series victory since they had taken four of six games from Tacoma Rainiers from July 20-26.

Of the nine hits for Reno in the contest, none were bigger than Del Castillo’s home run and the double from Robinson. Only Anderdson Rojas finished with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, and eight of nine Aces logged a hit in the season finale.

It will now be nearly a full six months before the Aces take the field, and the Aces will begin the 2027 season with Round Rock on the road on March 26, 2027.