RENO, Nev. – A bevy of extra-base hits helped the Reno Aces grab their first win of the series with the Albuquerque Isotopes, tallying a trio of runs in three different innings while the pitching staff stiffened down the stretch for a 3-2 win on Thursday.
After escaping the top of the first without a run allowed despite the Isotopes (30-36/69-72) loading the bases with one out, the Aces (30-35/62-78) used that momentum and plated a run of their own in the bottom half for the early lead. Batting with two outs, Jose Fernandez crushed a ball off the wall in left center which allowed Demetrio Crisantes to score all the way from first.
Albuquerque did draw level for the final time courtesy of a sacrifice fly in the top of the third, but Reno managed to rally for the next two runs which eventually led to the win. Crisantes again played a factor for the Ace when he tripled off the wall in center field while Pavin Smith scored from second after doubling earlier in the frame.
Reno added a crucial insurance run on yet another RBI double in the home half of the fifth, turning a throwing error into another run when A.J. Vukovich pulled a ball down the left-field line.
That run proved to be the game-winning run as the Isotopes managed to score once more in the top of the sixth, but the Reno bullpen held firm down the stretch.
Though Mitch Bratt allowed only one run on two hits, he did walk four batters while striking out just two before leaving after only 3.1 innings. On next was another starter, Yu-Min Lin (8-9), who entered and went the next five full innings while also allowing only a single tally. Though he allowed three hits, one more than Bratt, he punched out six including the final batter of the night to take his eighth win of the season.
It may have been only two outs, but Bryce Jarvis (S, 2) entered and shut the door by striking out one of the two batters he faced to convert his second save of the season.
Of the eight hits on the night for Reno, a whopping six of them went for extra-bases and all came from different bats. Five of those extra-base knocks were doubles, which included Fernandez who was the only of the five to both score a run and drive in one with his double. Meanwhile, Crisantes nearly matched that with an RBI and run scored, but he tripled for his only hit of the game.
After snapping their four-game losing streak, the Aces will look to make it two in a row when they meet the Isotopes for game four of this series on Friday at 6:05 p.m. PT.