Reno Record-Breaking Season Ends with Silver State Series Win Over Las Vegas

Reno Record-Breaking Season Ends with Silver State Series Win Over Las Vegas

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces (44-31, 88-62) played extremely well in a series win over their Silver State rivals, the Las Vegas Aviators (41-34, 75-74), Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, but they ultimately missed their shot at the Pacific Coast League Championship, with a 6-5 loss in Sunday’s series finale.

Sergio Alcántara highlighted a statement showing from the Aces in a crucial game one win. The switch-hitting infielder doubled home two in the fifth and added three sharp singles. The BLC Nine sprinkled runs throughout the evening and never slowed down, smacking nine hits, and drawing an additional six walks. The back of Reno’s bullpen has been a key for the club over the last couple of months. José Ruiz continued his great run with two dominant innings before a tremendous ninth from Justin Martínez.

Aces center fielder Jorge Barrosa took center stage in Wednesday night’s thrilling victory. Barrosa led off the game with a thundering triple into right-center in the top of the first. The dynamic 22-year-old singled, tripled, and homered as the catalyst for the Aces offense. Reno sent 12 hitters to the plate in the third and scored seven runs in a full group explosion. Barrosa and Tristin English each homered in the frame. Las Vegas fought back but never recovered in a 10-7 Aces win.

The BLC Nine delivered one of its best and most impressive performances of the season Thursday night. Peter Solomon was fabulous with five scoreless innings and five strikeouts in a critical start for the Aces. Solomon wiggled out of jams with relative ease and kept a tricky Aviators lineup off balance throughout the start while earning his first win with Reno. English, Pavin Smith, and José Herrera all homered as the Aces took a 3-0 series lead into the weekend, reducing their magic number to three.

Smith kept it rolling in game four Friday night. Smith launched his second homer of the series in the top of the first to hand Reno another early lead. Alcántara followed with a line shot three-run homer on a 3-2 pitch in the second. The Aces continued to pile on with two more runs in the third, jumping out to a 6-0 cushion. With the game hanging in the balance late, the Aces received a heroic effort from their bullpen. Kyle Backhus, Austin Pope, and Justin Martínez posted scoreless frames in the seventh, eighth, and ninth to secure the win and reduce Reno’s magic number to two with two games to play.

The Aces rolled Saturday en route to their seventh straight win. Kyle Lewis returned from the injured list and immediately resumed destroying PCL pitching. The prolific slugger demolished a 432-foot two-run homer to left in the fifth, critically expanding Reno’s lead after a rally from the Aviators a half-inning earlier. Lewis tied Tristin English for the team lead in home runs (17) despite playing in just 63 games.

With the magic number at one, the Aces needed a win or a Round Rock loss Sunday to secure their spot in the PCL Championship. Unfortunately, Reno fell just short in a 6-5 loss and watched the Rainiers fold to the Express.

The Aces 2023 season was one for the record books as the club set seven new team records; wins (88), batting average (.303), runs (1043), hits (1570), RBI (984), walks (815) and on-base percentage (.401).

Thank you Aces fans for a special season!

Season Memberships for the upcoming 2024 season are on sale now via RenoAces.com, texting “MEMBER” to 21003, or calling (775) 334-7000.

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