Alexander & Mancini Lead Offensive Outburst, Reno Splits Six-Game Homestand with Sugar Land

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces (33–36) split their six-game homestand with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (37–31), the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, this past week at Greater Nevada Field.

The BLC-Nine fell into an early 0–2 hole after dropping the first two games of the series, but bounced back in Thursday’s contest behind a monster night from Blaze Alexander. The shortstop went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI to carry Reno to a much-needed 10–8 win. The Aces offense erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first, powered by RBI hits from Alexander and Trey Mancini. After Sugar Land responded with four runs in the top of the second to tie it, Alexander blasted a three-run homer to reclaim the lead. He added a solo shot in the fourth, while Andrew Saalfrank sealed the win with a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

Friday’s 20–7 blowout was Reno’s most dominant showing of the week. The Aces launched four home runs in the first two innings and finished with 11 extra-base hits. Jake McCarthy ignited the offense with a first-pitch leadoff homer—his first of the season—and finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI. Alexander added a three-run shot in the first, his third homer in two games, and Rene Pinto capped the inning with a solo homer, part of a 4-for-6 night. Jorge Barrosa kept the fireworks going with a three-run blast in the second and finished 3-for-5 with his league-leading 22nd double. Jordan Lawlar chipped in three hits, including a double and a triple, and drove in three.

The Aces picked up its third and final win of the series in Saturday’s dramatic, back-and-forth slugfest, highlighted by a season-high five home runs. Mancini got things started with a two-run homer in the first—his 11th of the year—but the Aces quickly fell behind after surrendering seven runs in the second. They answered with five runs of their own, including a two-run shot from Connor Kaiser. After Sugar Land regained the lead in the fourth, Adrian Del Castillo tied the game with a two-run homer, and Alexander followed with another two-run blast. Alexander later broke a 10–10 tie in the seventh with an RBI single. Lawlar also went deep, tying the game in the sixth with his ninth homer of the season. Saalfrank once again shut the door in the ninth, working a clean inning for his second save.

Reno had a chance to win the series in Sunday’s finale but came up short against Sugar Land.

The Aces' offense was nothing short of spectacular throughout the series, slashing an eye-popping .360/.452/.636 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI across the six games.

Blaze Alexander led the charge, posting his best week of the season by going 9-for-22 (.409) with four home runs and 13 RBI. After a slow start to the campaign, the flashy infielder has caught fire in June, hitting .364 (16-for-44) with eight extra-base hits and 18 RBI over 11 games.

Trey Mancini also swung a hot bat at the dish, going 12-for-20 (.600) with a double, two home runs, and nine RBI. He recorded multiple hits in four of five games he played, including three-hit performances on three occasions. Mancini is enjoying a monster June, slashing .383/.464/.681 with four homers and 17 RBI in 12 games.

The Aces now hit the road to open a six-game set against the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The series begins Tuesday, June 17, with first pitch scheduled for 5:35 p.m. PST.