RENO, Nev. – A quick and efficient offensive explosion was the key to victory on Friday, as the Reno Aces used a four-run first and cruised their way to a 6-1 win over the Sacramento River Cats.
The Aces (24-29/56-72) did much of their damage with their first set of swings, exploding for a quartet of runs. Tommy Troy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., both appearing on rehab, reached with respective singles and walks before advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.
Stepping up to deliver first was Tyler Locklear, ripping a ball through the left side to bring home Troy. Both Gurriel Jr. and Locklear scored on the next at-bat thanks to the double of LuJames Groover, who hammered a ball off the wall in the left field corner. Groove represented the final run of the frame, ultimately crossing home on a single to right field from A.J. Vukovich.
Outside of that first frame, the offense slowed down but until the end when they poured on two insurance runs in the eighth, with both runs scoring on a throwing error from Parks Harber at third base.
Reno’s pitching staff was once again stiff throughout, holding the River Cats (31-23/73-53) to just a single tally during the sixth when a leadoff walk turned into a run on a groundout.
Though it was allowed by Reno starter Yu-Min Lin (7-9), that run was the only blemish of Lin’s outing. The southpaw checked out after 6.1 frames with only two hits allowed, striking out three and walking two in the process of his team-leading sixth quality start of the season.
Groover led the Aces at the dish in the night, finishing 3-for-4 with his double, two RBI and two runs scored. All five other hits were singles, which a 2-for-4 effort with two runs scored and an RBI from Locklear while Troy was 1-for-3 with a run scored and walk.
Now even at two games apiece in the series, the Aces will look to gain the edge over Sacramento when they line up for game five of the series at Greater Nevada Field starting at 6:35 p.m. PT on Saturday.