RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces opened the scoring in game four of their set with the El Paso Chihuahuas by scoring twice in the first frame, but their needed comeback bid fell short in the end as El Paso avoided a series sweep by handing Reno an 8-6 defeat on Friday.
For the first time in the series, it was the Aces (20-17/52-60) that scored the game’s first runs, tonight plating two with their first set of swings. Reno immediately put their first two batters aboard with a walk and hit by pitch, all resulting in a Manuel Pena RBI groundout and a Pavin Smith RBI single through the left side.
In a reversal of fortune, the Chihuahuas (10-26/45-66) responded by scoring all eight of their runs in the second and third, all of which was highlighted by a five-run third frame. Aces starter Ashton Izzi was tagged for three homers, allowing all eight runs on 10 hits without a walk or strikeout.
It took until the fifth for the Aces to start their comeback, doing so by joining the home run party as Gavin Conticello kicked off the frame by crushing his fourth homer of the Triple-A season.
An inning later and Reno pulled within striking distance, plating a trio of runs in the home half of the sixth. While the first was a bases loaded walk to Conticello, earning him his second RBI of the night, the final two runs of the inning came courtesy a Demetrio Crisantes two-RBI single into center field.
Unfortunately for the Aces, those final three runs were as close as they would come in the game despite putting a pair of runners aboard in the bottom of the eighth and one on in the ninth.
Izzi was ultimately handed the loss as he checked out of the contest after 2.1 innings. The bullpen worked its hardest to keep Reno in the contest, combining to work 6.2 innings while allowing just four hits, one each from the quintet of Landon Sims, Spencer Giesting, Jonatan Bernal and Bryce Jarvis while Casey Anderson walked one in the ninth.
Crisantes was one of the biggest producers for the Aces in the contest, finishing with Reno’s only multi-hit game with two hits including a double. Adrian Del Castillo, who returned to Reno today, made a pinch-hit appearance and doubled in his only opportunity, while Conticello also had two RBI in a 1-for-3.
Though El Paso has avoided the series sweep, Reno will once more have the chance to win the series outright when the two teams meet for game five on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. PT.