RENO, Nev. – After speeding out to an early advantage, the Reno Aces needed some comeback magic which was culminated in the eighth inning when Aramis Garcia crushed a solo homer to lift Reno to a 6-5 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Friday.
Quickly the Aces (31-35/63-78) had snatched the lead thanks to runs in each of their first three set of swings, all starting with a two-out RBI double from Gavin Conticello as his flare down the right-field line landed just fair. That allowed Santiago Espinal to score easily from third after drawing a leadoff walk and subsequently swiping second.
That lead grew in the second when Reno traded a run for a pair of outs, pushing one across as Anderdson Rojas grounded into a double play.
A one-out, solo blast from Roc Riggio put the Isotopes (30-37/69-73) on the board for the first time in the top of the third, but it did not deter Reno as they countered with a pair of runs to maintain their edge.
Demetrio Crisantes worked a walk and found himself on third after a Pavin Smith single, scoring in the next at-bat when Jose Fernandez grounded out to the pitcher. Not finished, the Aces added their second of the frame just two batters later when A.J. Vukovich’s single to right field brought home Smith.
However, Albuquerque was ready and found a way to score a pair of runners of their own in the fourth, keeping the contest separated by just one run. That was, until the Isotopes managed to score once in each the sixth and seventh, storming back to take the lead after a home run from Sterlin Thompson at the beginning of the seventh.
Reaching deep for more offense, Reno found a way to equalize with two outs in the seventh thanks to a familiar face in Jesus Valdez, who was playing in his second game of the season for the Aces. Stepping to the plate with two outs, Valdez lined a ball into right field that found grass just in front of Charlie Condon and allowed Crisantes to be the game’s tying run.
Then came the decisive knock for Reno, coming from one of the most experience bats in the lineup. Ready at the dish in a 1-2 count, Aramis Garcia sent a sweeper to the opposite field for a solo go-ahead homer, his third home run this season that has given Reno the lead.
Even further, that was Garcia’s fifth home run of his career in the eighth inning or later in his Reno career. Of those five dingers, three have ether tied or given the Aces the lead.
Drawing the start was southpaw Tommy Henry, who did not factor into the decision despite falling one frame shy of a quality start. Henry checked out after five innings and three runs allowed, three walks, and three strikeouts.
Reno’s bullpen was sharp, as only Dylan Ray allowed an earned run. Colleting the win was Spencer Giesting (3-2), who allowed two hits in an otherwise scoreless eighth. There to slam the door in the ninth was Gerardo Carrillo (S, 6) for his sixth of the season, as he punched out all three batters he faced in just 14 pitches.
Out of the nine Reno hits in the contest, two came from Garcia with none bigger than his game-winning blast in the eighth. All six Aces runs were driven in from different bats, which also included Conticello who matched Garcia with a pair of knocks including a double. Also logging a two-bagger of his own was Crisantes, his only hit in a game where he scored twice thanks to a pair of walks.
Now even in the series at 2-2, the Aces will look to claim at least a series split when these teams meet for game five of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. PT.