Reno Pitching Clean Through Eight, Homers Twice in Game Two Win

TACOMA, Wash. – Reno’s pitching staff kept the bats of the Tacoma Rainiers in check nearly all game while the Aces’ offense used a trio of two-run frames, including a pair of homers, to lock down a 6-1 win in game two of their series on Wednesday.

Tonight’s lead for the Aces (21-20/53-63) was built on a trio of two-run innings, the first of which came during the third while the other two were consecutively in the seventh and eighth.

Pavin Smith struck first and broke the game’s scoreless tie with a two-out homer, his third of the season. That blast ensured that Reno did not waste an inning-opening bunt single from Kristian Robinson, who was standing on second base after his 17th stolen base of the season.

The single also extended Robinson’s active on-base streak to 30 games, the second Ace this season to reach that mark this season along with LuJames Groover, who had a 36-game streak from April 3 through May 16. Robinson is just the 11th Ace in team history to record an on-base streak of 30 games or better, while he and Groover are the first pair of teammates to do it in over a decade since Tony Abreu and Cole Gillespie achieved the feat in 2011.

While the offense was building the lead, Reno starter Tommy Henry (4-6) was dancing out of danger but ultimately made it through five run-free frames with five hits allowed, two walks and two strikeouts. Henry has been used to facing the Rainiers (17-24/50-66), as today marked his 13th career start against Tacoma which is tied for third most of all pitchers since 2005.

Henry then passed the baton to a pair of rehabbing Arizona Diamondbacks in Blake Walston and Derek Law, each of whom allowed one hit in a scoreless frame. The only difference is Law struck out one while facing the minimum, while Walston punched out two against four batters.

The Aces immediately loaded the bases to start the seventh with a pair of singles and a walk, setting up Adrian Del Castillo to extend the lead with a single into center field. With the bases remaining full, Reno traded a run for two outs when Groover grounded into a double play.

For the third time in nine August games the Aces tallied a multi-home run game, as A.J. Vukovich added the other Reno blast when he slugged his ninth homer of the season with one out in the eighth inning. Scoring on the play was Gavin Conticello, who had doubled immediately in front of Vukovich.

Kade Strowd had kept the shutout bid alive by working a run-free eighth, though he did walk one in addition to one strikeout. However, Lazaro Montes led off the ninth inning with a ball that crashed off the wall in center field and caromed away while he sped around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Smith and Vukovich each drove in two with their homer, but the latter finished with a two-hit day while the former was just 1-for-5. Christian Cerda logged a 3-for-4 game with a run scored from the eighth position in the order, while Del Castillo had the other RBI in a 1-for-4 game.

Tonight’s win snapped Reno’s four-game losing streak and moved them to 10-7 in the season series against Tacoma.

Game three of this series gets underway on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. PT from Cheney Stadium.