Six-Run Eighth Secures Dominant Win for Aces over Isotopes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Reno Aces waited until nearly the end to add insurance for their slim 2-1 advantage, plating six runs in the eighth to spoil the home opener of the Albuquerque Isotopes by an 8-1 final on Tuesday.

Both starters were sharp, but Aces (2-2) hurler Thomas Hatch was efficient in his short outing as he faced just two hitters over the minimum despite allowing a run on a pair of hits. The first allowed was a two-out double that he stranded in the first frame, but the last was a leadoff triple to Vimael Machín in the second. Machín scored in the next at-bat on a groundout from Adael Amador.

That Isotopes (1-3) run came in response to Reno, as the Aces pushed across the game’s first tally in the top of the frame when Kristian Robinson delivered a two-out single through the right side for his first knock of the campaign. Scoring on the play was LuJames Groover, who worked his way aboard with a one-out walk.

Reno broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth, with the run charged to starter Gabriel Hughes (0-1). However, it was yielded by Parker Mushinski as he failed to strand Tommy Troy at third base after a leadoff triple despite a strikeout of Adrian Del Castillo and a groundout by Luken Baker. Doing the damage was Groover, singling into right field to bring in Troy.

Two innings later in the eighth was when the Aces exploded for their six-run frame, an accomplishment that they accomplished 18 times in 2025. The last of those instances came against the Isotopes on Sept. 16 in Albuquerque in the first inning of an 8-7 victory.

Troy and Del Castillo, the latter of whom began a rehab assignment today with the Aces, both worked free passes to begin the inning. Baker stepped up next and singled into right field, extending his hitting streak to four games and scoring Troy. It was déjà vu in the next at-bat as Groover poked a ball to right field for the second of his two hits on the night, driving in Del Castillo.

Robinson was clutch yet again for the Aces, once more delivering with two outs when he pulled a ball to left that scored Baker. A walk loaded the bases in front of Arizona’s top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt, and for a fourth consecutive game he earned an RBI as Waldschmidt ripped a double past the diving Machín at third base for a three-run double.

Each of Waldschmidt’s first three hits at the Triple-A level have been extra-base hits (two doubles, one triple), and he now has six total RBI.

For the first time this season the Reno bullpen worked together to not allow a run, blanking the Isotopes lineup for a combined five innings. Kade Strowd (1-0) made his season debut and earned the win, allowing one hit in one inning with one strikeout. Taylor Rashi (H, 1) also made his season debut, working around three hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

By the end of the night Robinson finished with three knocks, scoring once and driving in a pair. Groover was the only other with multiple hits by going 2-for-4, and he also plated two while crossing home once. Del Castillo was 0-for-4 in his first rehab game of the assignment but did score once thanks to a walk.

The Aces will look to continue their momentum in game two of the series on Wednesday at Isotopes Park at 5:35 p.m. PT.