Reno Aces baseball: Las Vegas capitalizes on ninth inning rally, defeat Reno 11-4
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 06/03/2017 - 10:34am
Event Date:
June 2, 2017 - 7:00pm With 6,387 anxious fans in attendance, the Reno Aces faced off against the Las Vegas 51s for the third time in their four-game series at Greater Nevada Field in Reno.
Starting pitchers Anthony Banda (Reno) and Wilfredo Boscan (Las Vegas) took the mound ready to break the 1-1 split in the intense match-up.
After a scoreless first inning, Las Vegas broke free with the lead as Boscan’s RBI single with runners on first and second capped off a three-hit, one-run top of the second inning for the 51s.
The Aces' offense soon found their stride during the bottom half of the second inning as an RBI double from catcher Willians Astudillo tied the game, 1-1.
Both Reno and Las Vegas found their sweet spots at the plate as they matched one another with solo home runs by catcher Kevin Plawecki and right fielder Oswaldo Arcia that tied the game at two runs apiece to conclude the third inning.
A shaky start on the mound didn’t seem to alter Banda’s confidence as he finished the top of fourth inning with two strikeouts and keeping the game up in the air with a score of 2-2.
The Aces took control of the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as another solo shot from third baseman Carlos Rivero put Reno up 3-2 heading into the fifth inning.
After Banda lead another scoreless inning, action resumed during the sixth inning as the 51s capitalized on a three-hit, three-run inning highlighted with RBI doubles from third baseman Josh Rodriguez and second baseman Gavin Cecchini.
Jayce Boyd added on to the Las Vegas lead with a pinch-hit RBI single as Las Vegas stormed back to take a comfortable 5-3 lead to conclude the sixth inning.
During the three-run rally, Erik Davis came in relief for Banda. Kevin McGowan also relieved Boscan of his duties in the sixth inning.
A blown opportunity for the Aces couldn’t have come at a worse time. Reno failed to capitalize on the two-run deficit with the bases loaded due to a fielder’s choice error in the seventh inning, keeping the match at a 5-3 stand-still with just two innings left to play.
Left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker’s solo home run in the eighth inning trimmed the Las Vegas lead to just one run, keeping the game close at 5-4 and igniting the crowd back on their feet with one inning left to play.
Xorge Carillo’s pinch-hit two-RBI single and Rodriguez’s three-run home run put away any chance of a Reno comeback as the Reno Aces fell to the Las Vegas 51s, 11-4.
In a postgame interview, Hazelbaker went in depth on his home run plate appearance.
“I was trying to see the ball middle in. I knew the man on the mound was going to throw some really good heaters, so I was waiting to see those and seeing what he had behind him,” he said.
“First pitch curve ball for a strike was a good pitch. Next two pitches he threw were fastballs for balls. So in that count I thought he was throwing something for a sure strike,” Hazelbaker said, "so I was looking middle in and happened to put a good swing on that pitch.”
Hazelbaker also spoke about the goals for the season.
“We must bring home a championship, that is our main goal. We have the talent to do it and it shows with our pitching staff, hitters, and coaching staff,” he said. “It’s going to take much more work and more wins, but I think we can pull it out.”
For Las Vegas, Wilfredo Boscan pitched a full five innings in the victory, giving up three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Kevin McGowan and Alberto Baldanado each pitched in relief.
At the plate, Boscan went 2-for-2 with two singles and one RBI. Josh Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with a double, single, and home run with four RBIs.
Gavin Cecchini went 3-for-5 with one double and two singles and one RBI. Kevin Plawecki went 2-for-5 with a single and solo home run with one RBI. Amed Rosario and Victor Cruzado each had two singles. And finally, Brandon Nimmo went 1-for-5 with an RBI single.
For Reno, Anthony Banda pitched 5+ innings in the loss, giving up four earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
At the plate, Oswaldo Arcia went 3-for-5 with two singles and a solo home run for one RBI. Jeremy Hazelbaker went 2-for-4 with a single, solo home run, and one RBI.
Willians Astudillo went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one single with one RBI. Carlos Rivero went 2-for-3 with a single, solo home run, and one RBI.
With the loss, the Aces still hold the best record in the minor leagues at 34-21. Reno faces off against Las Vegas Saturday, June 3 at 7:05 p.m.
