Showdown in Reno: Aces and Rainiers fight for division/playoffs
RENO- Aces Ballpark a beautiful sight for downtown Reno was full of electricity on Saturday night as the Tacoma Rainiers rolled into town for the most important season series for the two teams. The Aces lead the Rainiers by five and a half games in the Pacific North Division as they start the four game series against the Rainiers.
The 'Voice of the Aces' Ryan Radtke started out his broadcast by saying the emotions of the two teams would be at an all-time high knowing what this series means for the both of them.
Reno started their scoring in the 3rd inning by putting up one run with the bases loaded scoring Angel Berroa from third on a Evan Frey 4-6-3 double play with no one out at the time. That's all the Aces would score in the 3rd. Reno's defense would get a shutdown inning in the top of the 4th. A big offensive explosion would follow for the Aces in the bottom half of the 4th when they would score four runs resulting in a 5-0 lead over the Rainiers at the time. Tacoma came back in the top of the 5th and scored one run.
All the meanwhile, the strike zone of the home plate umpire Mike Jarboe was erratic to put it at best. Both Reno and Tacoma players along with the coaches continued their constant 'chirping' showing their displeasure about the calls of balls and strikes by Jarboe. It reached its peak in the top of the 6th inning when Aces catcher Robby Hammock argued once again with Jarobe on a call, Jarobe heard enough, and ejected Hammock. Hammock fired his catcher's mask to the dirt and with a few more choice words for Jarobe, exited with a standing ovation from the home crowd.
The game, which seemed to be in complete control for Reno ahead 5-1, quickly unraveled at that point. Tacoma would take advantage of the flustered Aces and score four runs in the 6th to tie the score at 5-5. Reno would score one run in the bottom half of the 6th on an RBI single by Lucas May (who took over the catcher position for Hammock) that scored Angel Berroa from first.
With the Aces leading 6-5 heading into the seventh inning, the Rainiers went to work with the bats once again, and with a little help from Aces relief pitcher Jeff Bennett who threw a pass-ball by his catcher May and it allowed Tacoma base runner Greg Halman to score from third tying the game at 6-6. Tacoma would score one more run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Alex Liddi scoring Sean Kazmar and giving Tacoma a 7-6 lead.
The wildness does not stop there. In the eighth inning the Aces would score two more runs on a two RBI double by Angel Berroa scoring Juan Miranda and Cole Gillespie giving the Aces an 8-7 lead and THAT would eventually stand as Ryan Cook came in and closed things out for Reno by having a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 9th.
Reno expanded their lead in the division over Tacoma to six and a half games with the victory and making their first trip to the post-season more of a reality. Magic number is 12.