ROUND ROCK, Texas – For a second consecutive day the Reno Aces and Round Rock Express went to extra innings, but the result was the same as Reno failed to score while Round Rock walked off as 1-0 victors in the finale thanks to an Orlando Martinez single.
Tonight’s game saw a scoreless tie move all the way through the ninth inning, though it was not for lack of trying. The Aces (17-16/49-59) had put a runner on in each of the four innings, three times reaching scoring position, but failed to capitalize.
The Express (20-13/51-57) failed to get much going until the latter stages, and twice nearly scored in the final third of the game. It took an impressive outfield assist from center field by Anderdson Rojas to cut down a runner trying to score in the home half of the seventh, while Dylan Ray had to dance out of danger in the eighth by stranding the bases loaded.
One of the best chances of the night for Reno came in the top of the ninth, as they saw Pavin Smith draw a leadoff walk and advance up to third after a Gavin Conticello sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Despite a runner just 90 feet from home with only one out, the Aces could not drive him in and watched the inning end with a ground out and strikeout.
Though the Aces were able to get the free runner in the 10th inning to third base, they failed to capitalize on their opportunity as a strikeout ended the inning. It took Round Rock just two batters into the bottom half to win it, using a sacrifice bunt to get the runner to third before Martinez singled on a high chopper to shortstop.
Jose Cabrera had drawn the start for Reno and worked five run-free innings, striking out six without a walk for the second time this season while allowing only a single hit. Spencer Giesting kept the line moving with a single inning and one hit allowed before Dylan Ray pushed the game through the final third by working three innings with three hits and two walks.
The loss was charged to Casey Anderdson (0-1), who faced just the two batters and allowed an unearned run on one hit.
Demetrio Crisantes had his second straight three-hit day, finishing the game 3-for-5. Of Reno’s six hits, only two went for extra bases as the duo of A.J. Vukovich and Christian Cerda each doubled, the former finishing with two hits.
With the conclusion of this series, the Aces now return to Reno for a six-game series at Greater Nevada Field on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 6:35 p.m. PT against El Paso.