Aces baseball recap: Reno's bats come up clutch in 9th inning, beat Tacoma 4-3
Submitted by Isaiah Burrows on Thu, 06/22/2017 - 10:43pm
With a league leading record of 45-27, the Reno Aces continued their 8 game homestand Thursday, June 22, against the Tacoma Rainiers, an Affiliate of the MLB team, Seattle Mariners.
Starting pitchers Braden Shipley (Reno, 5-3 4.78 ERA) and Tyler Cloyd (Tacoma, 1-0 1.40 ERA) took the mound with 4,538 fans in attendance. Hoping to jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the four game series.
After two shutout innings from Shipley and Cloyd, action resumed during the top of the third inning. As centerfielder Leonys Martin launched his sixth home run of the season to deep right field, putting the Rainiers up 1-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Reno tied game at 1 apiece during the bottom half of the third. As a leadoff triple from third baseman Kristopher Negron lead to a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Rudy Flores heading into the fourth inning.
After a mini flurry from the Aces’ offense, another solo blast from left fielder Boog Powell put Tacoma back up with a 2-1 lead. A scoreless inning from Cloyd kept the lead in the Rainiers’ grasp to conclude the fourth inning.
Cody Martin came in relief for Cloyd during the fifth inning, but Reno capitalized on a 2 hit, 1 run rally. As an RBI single from shortstop Jack Reinheimer tied the back and forth matchup 2-2 heading into the top of the sixth inning.
Along with Shipley’s dominant pitching, a tremendous diving catch from right fielder Oswaldo Arcia kept Tacoma from breaking free with the lead. Keeping the game knotted at 2-2 to conclude the sixth and seventh innings. For the Rainiers, Ryne Harper came in relief during the seventh.
With runners of 1st and second in the bottom of the eighth, a 6-4-3 double play ended a potential late inning rally for Reno. As Tacoma escaped the innings scoreless, keeping the duel on the diamond tied with one inning left of play.
The Rainiers’ bats made contact at the perfect time, as right fielder Andrew Aplin’s RBI single in the top of the ninth inning placed Tacoma back on top 3-2. Leaving just one half inning left to play for the Aces.
Reno’s offense answered back with an offensive showcase of their own, as centerfielder Ketel Marte’s RBI double tied the game at 3-3. Keeping the Aces in the game, and leaving the anxious fans out of their seats. Next at bat, Arcia wacked a line drive that ricocheted off Martin’s glove, scoring Marte and ending the game in walkoff fashion. As the Reno Aces took the first game vs. the Tacoma Rainiers 4-3.
After the walkoff victory, Jack Reinheimer reflected on the win, “It’s always awesome walking off like that, I think that’s one of the better feelings in this game.” He said, “Arcia put together a great at bat, lined it up to center and the ball just happened to go our way tonight. That’s an awesome feeling.”
Reinheimer also described the impact of the first win in this intense series, “This win was huge,” he said, “they are big time rivals in our division. So it’s always good to start the series off with a win.”
For Tacoma, Tyler Cloyd pitched a full 4 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits and 2 walks with 1 strikeout. In relief, Cody Martin pitched a full 2 innings with 1 earned run and 4 hits and 1 walk. Ryne Harper and Jean Machi also came in relief. Leonys Martin finished 2 for 4 with a single, home run, and 1 RBI. Boog Powell went 3 for 4 with 2 singles, solo home run, and 1 RBI. Andrew Aplin finished 2 for 4 with 2 singles and 1 RBI. Daniel Vogelbach and Gordon Beckham each had 1 single.
For Reno, Braden Shipley pitched 6 ⅔ innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 1 strikeout. Jake Barrett and Erik Davis also came in relief. Ketel Marte finished 1 for 5 with a double and RBI. Jack Reinheimer went 1 for 4 with a single and RBI, Kristopher Negron finished 2 for 3 with a triple and single. Ronnie Freeman went 2 for 4 with 2 singles. Rudy Flores and Oswaldo Arcia added 1 RBI apiece. Christian Walker and Socrates Brito each hit 1 single.
Reno and Tacoma will face off once again Friday June 23, for the second game in the four game series.
