RENO, Nev. – Playing their final series of the 2026 campaign in front of their home crowd, the Reno Aces snagged a pair of one-run victories in games three and four of the series but ultimately could not stop the Albuquerque Isotopes from taking the set.
While the Isotopes were able to snag the first two games, both by three runs or less including a one-run win in game one, the Aces returned the favor and leveled the set with victories of 3-2 and 6-5 in games three and four. However, Albuquerque controlled the final two games, winning by five runs or more in both outings.
It took until the ninth inning for the Aces to hit the scoreboard in the series opener on Sept. 8, plating two runs in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a single and pair of walks, but in the end the Isotopes held strong to take the game one win by a 3-2 final.
With their final set of swings Reno pushed across their two runs, doing so with just one more hit in the inning as Espinal once more had a leadoff single into center. Three walks loaded the bases and forced in a run, while the second tally came courtesy a sacrifice fly to center by Gavin Conticello.
That was the third straight contest that the Aces had been held to three hits or fewer, marking the first time in franchise history they had had a trio of hits or fewer in three straight games. Even further, that was the ninth time this season they failed to record an extra-base hit in a game, but the first time it has happened consecutively after also going without in the previous series finale with Sugar Land.
Two of Reno’s three hits came from Espinal, his fifth multi-hit effort in just 11 games with the Aces. Reno did generate some more action on the basepaths by working five total walks.
Making the start for Reno on a rehab appearance was right-hander Ryne Nelson, who worked just one inning and punched out two of the three batters he faced.
A three-run frame in the fifth had brought Reno within a run on Sept. 9, but that was as close as they could come as Albuquerque held for an 8-5 victory in game two.
That big fifth inning for the Aces was highlighted an RBI knock from Jose Fernandez, driving in two with a single into center following a wild pitch that forced home a run. Pavin Smith added a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth.
Albuquerque’s runs were all scored despite the best efforts behind the dish of Christian Cerda, who threw out three Isotopes trying to swipe second base in the game. This was just the seventh time in franchise history that an Aces backstop has caught three runners trying to advance, the most in a game by an Ace since Michael Perez also caught three attempted base stealers on Aug. 20, 2024 against Las Vegas.
A bevy of extra-base hits helped Reno Aces their first win of the series with Albuquerque, tallying a trio of runs in three different innings while the pitching staff stiffened down the stretch for a 3-2 win on Sept. 10.
After escaping the top of the first without a run allowed despite the Isotpes loading the bases with one out, the Aces 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.
Yu-Min Lin entered in his first relief appearance of his Triple-A career and went the next five full innings while also allowing only a single tally. Though he allowed three hits, one more than starter Mitch 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.
After speeding out to an early advantage, the Aces needed some comeback magic which was culminated in the eighth inning when Aramis Garcia crushed a solo homer that lifted Reno to a 6-5 win over Albuquerque on Sept. 11.
Quickly the Aces 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.
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 just 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.
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.
Seven runs by the end of the third inning had Reno in the driver seat as they looked to secure a series split, but Albuquerque responded with a nine-run fourth en route to a 21-9 defeat for Reno on Sept. 12.
Through three frames it looked as if the Aces could maintain an edge, exploding for five runs in the second and two more in the third. After Jose Fernandez and A.J. Vukovich singled their way aboard to start the second, it was Matt O’Neill to drive them home with a double out to center field.
A walk kept the line moving for Santiago Espinal, who clobbered his second homer of the year deep over the wall in left center for their final runs of the frame.
While Albuquerque pulled level in their next at-bats with a trio of runs in the away half of the third, the Aces once more grabbed an advantage with a two-run third. O’Neill delivered yet again with a single to center for another RBI, while Gavin Conticello notched the first RBI of the inning with a single through the middle into center.
Making the second start of his rehab assignment was Ryne Nelson, who worked 1.2 innings while allowing two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
September 13 brought to an end the home portion of the 2026 schedule for the Aces, but it could not end on a high note as the Isotopes handed Reno a 10-5 defeat in the series and home finale.
It was a battle all day for Reno, who watched Albuquerque plate at least one run in each of their first six sets of swings in the game. Trailing 4-0 after the top of the third, Reno finally responded and pulled within one thanks to three runs of their own.
Digging in with two aboard and only one out, Trent Youngblood and Demetrio Crisantes ripped a pair of consecutive doubles that were responsible for all three runs in the frame. Youngblood, playing in just his second Triple-A contest, was first to do so with a ball into left that earned an RBI while the other run crossed courtesy of an error. Next up was Crisantes, who quickly traded places with Youngblood.
Earning an RBI after playing the hero in Reno’s 6-5 win on Friday was Aramis Garcia, who delivered in the clutch with a two-out single to left. Meanwhile, Gavin Conticello started the sixth in a big way by launching his eighth homer of the Triple-A campaign.
The seven total hits by A.J. Vukovich led the way for Reno on the week, though he batted just .280 after taking 25 at-bats with two doubles and a pair of RBI. Trent Youngblood was a cobined 3-for-6 in the first two games of his Triple-A career, while Pavin Smith had the highest average of those with 10 or more at bats by batting .462 with five runs scored, a double, a homer, and two RBI.
The 2026 season has just one series remaining, a road set of six games in Sacramento against the River Cats. The final six games of the 2026 campaign get underway on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. PT from Sutter Health Park.