Storm Chasers Outlast Aces in Barn Burner

August 4, 2019

The Omaha Storm Chasers squeaked out a 12-11 victory in game three of the four-game series this afternoon at Greater Nevada Field. Jon Duplantier was tagged with four runs in the top of the first inning in his third Triple-A game since returning from injury. The right-hander went 2.2 innings, allowed seven runs on seven hits and struck out two. Reno responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a Kevin Cron towering home run. After allowing one in the top of the second, the Aces tied things up at five with a double by Juniel Querecuto, a double steal by Joshua Rojas and Ben DeLuzio and an Ildemaro Vargas RBI single. Down by a score of 9-7 in the bottom of the seventh, DeLuzio singled home two on a line drive into center field to tie the game. The good times wouldn't last long for Reno as Omaha's Nick Heath picked a good time for his first homer of the season, sending a solo blast over the wall in the top of the eighth. Kelvin Gutierrez added another in the 9^th to give Omaha an 11-9 lead heading to the bottom half of the inning. The Aces tied the game in the final frame thanks to another RBI off the bat of Ben DeLuzio, followed by an RBI single from Joshua Rojas. However, the Storm Chasers pushed across the eventual winning run in 10^th thanks to a Nick Heath sacrifice fly. The loss snaps Reno's three-game win streak.

Top Performers - Reno

Kevin Cron (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI)
Josh Rojas (4-for-6, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI)
Ildemaro Vargas (3-for-6, RBI)

Top Performers - Omaha

Erick Mejia (2-for-5, R, 3 RBI)
Kelvin Gutierrez (2-for-4, 3 R, RBI)
Nick Heath (3-for-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI)

Tomorrow's Matchup

Notes & Information
Too Easy: Kevin Cron has demolished Triple-A pitching in 2019 and is likely on his way to the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award. The six-foot five-inch slugger has played just 60 games for the Reno Aces yet leads the Triple-A circuit in home runs. With a homer this afternoon, Cron has now hit 31 home runs this season and is one shy of tying the Aces franchise record set by Christian Walker in his 2017 MVP campaign. Cron is batting .336 with 31 homers, 17 doubles, and 84 RBI.
200 Club: With homers from Josh Rojas and Kevin Cron this afternoon, the Reno Aces are now just one home run away from 200 team home runs. There have been two teams in the last 19 years to hit more than 200 home runs in a single season - 2017 Fresno Grizzlies & 2019 El Paso Chihuahuas. El Paso entered today with 222 home runs, more than every other team in professional baseball. Reno's 199 homers are good for third in professional baseball. The Aces have never hit more than 180 home runs in a single season. Their previous season-best was set in 2011 with 178. 156 - 2018 |158 - 2017 | 140 - 2016 |138 - 2015 | 127 - 2014 | 124 - 2013 |116 - 2012 |178 - 2011 |130 - 2010 | 111 - 2009.