Late Homer Hands Reno 4-3 Walk-Off Loss in Finale at Tacoma
TACOMA, Wash. – Though the Reno Aces had taken the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth, the Tacoma Rainiers needed just two batters into the home half of the ninth inning to blast a two-run, walk-off homer for a 4-3 decision in the series finale on
TACOMA, Wash. – Though the Reno Aces had taken the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth, the Tacoma Rainiers needed just two batters into the home half of the ninth inning to blast a two-run, walk-off homer for a 4-3 decision in the series finale on Sunday.
After entering the eighth down a run, Kristian Robinson quickly knotted things for the Aces (21-24/53-68) with one out by crushing his 12th home run of the year in solo fashion. Anderdson Rojas kept the line moving with a single and promptly swiped second base, scoring on a two-out double from Demetrio Crisantes into left field to give Reno the lead.
Unfortunately for the Aces, a soft single to center by Connor Joe to start the ninth set up Stuart Fairchild to blast the game-winning homer for the Rainiers (21-24/54-66) on a 1-2 pitch from Isaiah Campbell (5-2).
Reno had taken the game’s initial lead in the top of the second when A.J. Vukovich, who had singled earlier with one out, was forced home on a bases loaded walk to Robinison. Quickly the Rainiers responded as Willie MacIver drove home a pair with a two-out double into center field.
Aces starter Yu-Min Lin had been in a groove for most of his outing, as he surrendered two runs on only one hit while striking out four with two walks, but he did not factor into the decision.
Reno’s bullpen had held firm until the end, as the trio of Derek Law, Juan Burgos and Kade Strowd had each worked scoreless outings to get into the ninth inning. Law faced the minimum four hitters while punching out one, while Burgos walked two but otherwise was clean.
The home run allowed by Campbell snapped a 10.1-inning streak without allowing an earned run that he had compiled since July 22, and he had allowed only three hits with 11 strikeouts in that time.
All five Reno hits came from different bats, which included a trio of singles from Rojas, Vukovich and Danny Serretti in addition to the Crisantes triple and Robinson home run.
Having dropped this series by a margin of 1-5, the Aces will look to turn the momentum around when they head to Salt Lake next week to take on the Bees in a six-game set beginning at 5:35 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Aug. 18.