Aces Win Series Against Aviators in Silver State Diamond Challenge

The Reno Aces finished up their six-game homestand against in-state rival, the Las Vegas Aviators, in part two of the Silver State Diamond Challenge presented by the Nevada Donor Network. After 12 games, Reno holds the 7-5 advantage over the Aviators.

Stone Garrett continued his offensive tear Tuesday night with a homer and five runs batted in for a 14-6 Aces win. The Aces pounced early with a four-run first inning highlighted by a two-run homer from Jake McCarthy for a 4-0 lead. Garrett gave the Aces some breathing room with a slim 4-3 lead in the fifth with a three-run shot to right for a 4-3 lead. With that longball, the Sugar Land, Texas native had hit back-to-back-to-back homers since Saturday, March 14, at Tacoma. On the mound, Ryne Nelson earned his second-straight win after tossing a season-high 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

It was another double-digit scoring game for the Aces Wednesday, fueled by a seven-run sixth inning in a 12-4 win over the Aviators. Trailing 4-2 with the bases loaded in the sixth, Drew Ellis blasted a grand slam that hit off the left-field videoboard for a 6-4 lead. Two at-bats later, Dominic Canzone pulled a ball to deep right-center for a two-run homer. Yadiel Rivera capped off the seven-run sixth with a solo shot to left for a 9-4 lead. Humberto Mejia earned his first win of the season with two shutout innings and allowed just one hit on the mound. Wednesday’s victory was Reno’s fourth in a row which was the longest win streak this season.

In front of a season-high 7,604 attendees Saturday, the Reno Aces treated the crowd to a 5-4 walk-off win. With two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Canzone was due up and hit a bouncer up the middle. An errant throw from Las Vegas’ Vimael Machin allowed Channy Ortiz to score the winning run for Reno. Miguel Aguilar (1-0) earned his first win of the season with a scoreless tenth with no hits allowed and two strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, the trio of Taylor Widener, Paul Fry and Kevin Ginkel combined for five shutout innings allowing four hits and registering six strikeouts.

The Aces edged past the Aviators in the homestand finale for a 5-4 win. Seth Beer supplied the lumber for the Aces with a homer and four runs batted in. Tyler Gilbert had a stellar start on the mound with six innings of one-run ball, allowing one earned run on four hits, and struck out two. Despite a three-run bid from the Aviators in the ninth inning to trim Reno’s lead to 5-4, Aguilar entered the game and shut the door with a scoreless ninth allowing no runs on no hits and struck out a batter.

Top Performers

Seth Beer: Hit .318 (7-for-22 ) in his first six games with Reno and bashed two homers and eight runs batted in.

Stone Garrett: Batted .238 (5-for-21) in six games played with a homer and seven runs batted in.

Dominic Canzone: Played in all six games and hit .304 (7-for-23) with a homer and five runs batted in.

Yadiel Rivera: Hit .400 (7-for-19) with a homer and plated three runs in six games.

Buddy Kennedy: Hit .350 (7-for-20) in five games played with four runs batted in, five runs scored and a triple.

Tyler Gilbert: (W) 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 K’s in one start.

Ryne Nelson: (W), 5.2 IP, 6 R (3 ER) on 5 H, 4 K’s in one start.

Taylor Widener: 4.0 IP, 0 ER on 3 H, 8 K’s in two relief appearances.