SUGAR LAND, Tex. – A pair of three-baggers helped the Reno Aces generate three runs in the third, however those were their only tallies in what ended as an 11-4 loss to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Thursday.
Three runs by the Aces (28-31/60-74) in the third inning helped them briefly take a lead, but the Space Cowboys (37-23/69-65) quickly turned the tables with a five-spot in the bottom of the frame and never looked back.
That frame featured two triples by Reno, already the second time they have done so this season after first achieving the feat in the sixth inning on July 22 against Tacoma. First to do so was Santiago Espinal who immediately scored on an Anderdson Rojas single, while Pavin Smith followed with a one-out three bagger drove home a pair.
Four hits and four walks resulted in the five runs during the bottom of the third for Sugar Land, who then added a measure of insurance with one more in the fourth and four more in the seventh. That helped the Space Cowboys withstand one last Reno run on a wild pitch in the ninth to bring the contest to its final of 11-4.
Charged with the loss for Reno was the returning Mitch Bratt (1-2), who was making his first start since the beginning of July and allowed six runs on six hits with three walks and only one strikeout.
Seven of the nine Reno hits in the game were contributed from the trio of Smith, Espinal and Rojas, with Espinal finishing 3-for-4 while Smith and Rojas each had two hits. Of the trio, Espinal and Rojas scored the runs along with Adrian Del Castillo, who ended his night 1-for-4.
Despite the loss, the Aces still lead the series by a 2-1 margin, and can clinch at minimum a series split in game four of the series on Friday at 5:05 p.m. PT.