The Aces were stung early and often by the Salt Lake Bees in Utah on Saturday, as starter Jake Buchanan was tagged for 7 Earned Runs (8 total) on 10 hits in 3.1 innings. After RBI singles by Jabari Blash and Jose Miguel Fernandez, Rymer Liriano delivered a line drive
The Aces were stung early and often by the Salt Lake Bees in Utah on Saturday, as starter Jake Buchanan was tagged for 7 Earned Runs (8 total) on 10 hits in 3.1 innings. After RBI singles by Jabari Blash and Jose Miguel Fernandez, Rymer Liriano delivered a line drive into right, scoring two, to close Salt Lake's scoring in the first at four. University of Nevada, Reno alum Braden Shipley relieved Buchanan in the top of the 4th with runners on first & second, but was abruptly greeted by Jose Miguel Fernandez, who sent Shipley's first pitch fastball over the wall in right center field for a three-run home run. Shipley, making just his second relief appearance of the season, went 2.2 innings surrendering three earned runs on four hits and recording just one strikeout. The Aces responded to Salt Lake's scoring in the top of the fifth when center fielder Rey Fuentes tripled down the right field line and scored on a Kevin Cron RBI groundout to short. Reno was efficient on offense, scoring eight runs on twelve hits, but it was not enough to overcome Salt Lake's offensive outbursts. The tying run was brought to the plate in the top of the ninth in the form of Kevin Cron with two runners on, but the slugger hit a line drive right to the right fielder Blash to end the game. The loss gives the Aces a record of 21-29 on the season and moves their head-to-head matchup against Salt Lake to 72-74.
Jack Reinheimer and César Puello each homered in tonight's contest, both in the 6th inning, driving in three combined runs with two runs scored. Kevin Cron produced again for his team later in the game, adding a RBI single in the top of the eighth after Puello reached on a hit-by-pitch. On what was a tough night for the Reno pitching staff, relievers Joey Krehbiel and Silvino Bracho were able to shine. Krehbiel replaced Shipley in the seventh and worked a scoreless frame, fanning one. Bracho, who has spent time between Reno and Arizona this year, pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth while striking out one. The Aces will play three more games in Salt Lake before returning to Greater Nevada Field on May 30 to take on the Las Vegas 51's.
Top Performers - Reno
• Cesar Puello (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
• Jack Reinheimer (1-for-4, HR)
• Kevin Cron (1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 BB)
Top Performers - Salt Lake City
• Jose Miguel Fernandez (3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
• Rymer Liriano (2-for-4, 3 RBI)
• Jabari Blash (2-for-5, RBI, 2 R)
Tomorrow's Matchup
Notes & Information
Honey, I'm Home: Cesar Puello homered in his second game back to the beehive state since calling it home. The Dominican outfielder played 44 games for the Bees last year, hitting seven homeruns while driving in 35 RBI's. Puello also hit a blistering .397 batting average while maintaining a .440 OBP. This season, he is hitting .299 with a .425 OBP while driving in 12 RBI's in 28 games.
BEEn Away Too Long: Since debuting from the disabled list earlier this month, Aces infielder Kevin Cron has done nothing but produce. In 19 games, the former TCU Horned Frog has excelled in his first taste of Triple-A baseball: driving in 10 RBI's on 17 hits while adjusting to a positional change from first base to third.
