The law of averages had to eventually come into play. That’s baseball
Reno started the second half of the season winners in 14 of 18, but still couldn’t make ground in the Pacific Northern Division. Tacoma was just as hot.
Last week, a leak sprung in the dam. Reno dropped six of eight games and now finds itself looking up at two teams in the standings. Fresno has won 13 of its last 16 and surged into second, dropping the Aces to third.
With Tacoma (67-48, best record in the Pacific Coast League), Fresno (64-51) and Reno (62-54), the Pacific Northern is without a doubt the toughest in the circuit. No division in the PCL has more than one team with 60 wins. And no division is particularly close. The most wins by a second place team is 57 (Las Vegas).
Reno closes a brief three-game home stand against Salt Lake on Wednesday before its final scheduled off-day of the season on Thursday. Reno then starts a big eight-game road trip on Thursday with the first of four games at Nashville, followed by four games at Memphis.
Last week: 2-6
Overall: 62-54
Home: 35-25
Away: 27-29
Upcoming Schedule (August 9-15)
August 9: HOME vs Salt Lake 7:05 p.m.
August 10: HOME vs Salt Lake 7:05 p.m.
August 11: OFF
August 12: AWAY at Nashville 5:05 p.m.
August 13: AWAY at Nashville 5:05 p.m.
August 14: AWAY at Nashville 4:35 p.m.
August 15: AWAY at Nashville 5:05 p.m.
Notable moves
-OF Socarates Brito, 23, was recalled by Arizona. Brito has played 13 games for the Diamondbacks this summer, batting .211 (8-for-38) with two home runs and four RBIs. In Reno, Brito is batting .280 (66-for-236) with five home runs and 30 RBIs.
-RHP Alexi Ogando, 32, was released. Ogando was released by the Braves last month before his contract was picked up by the Diamondbacks. He appeared in six games out of the Aces bullpen, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings. He made his final appearance last Monday, striking out two in a scoreless inning in a 7-3 loss to Fresno at Greater Nevada Field.
-RHP Matt Koch, 25, was transferred to Reno from Double-A Mobile. It is Koch’s first appearance at the Triple-A level. In Mobile, Koch is 2-4 with a 4.70 ERA in 14 starts. He’s struck out 49 batters compared with just 13 walks. Opponents are hitting .295 against him.
Who’s hot?
-Shelby Miller. One of the Diamondbacks’ prized offseason signings did not work out in the bigs this summer and was sent down to Reno a month ago. On Thursday, he threw a seven-inning complete game shutout, leading the Aces to a 1-0 win at Salt Lake in game one of a doubleheader. Miller scattered three hits while striking out eight and walking just oen batter.
Who’s not?
-The offense. Before Sunday’s 8-4 win at Salt Lake, the Aces mustered just 13 runs over seven games (1.9 runs per game) and dropped six of seven games. The slide dropped them to third place in the Pacific Northern Division.
Pacific Coast League Standings
Pacific Northern
Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) 67-48
Fresno Grizzlies (HOU) 64-51
Reno Aces (ARI) 62-54
Sacramento River Cats (SF) 54-62
Pacific Southern
El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) 63-53
Las Vegas 51s (NYM) 57-59
Salt Lake Bees (LAA) 53-60
Albuquerque Isotopes (COL) 50-64
American Northern
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD) 63-51
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (MIL) 55-57
Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) 50-64
Iowa Cubs (CHC) 50-66
American Southern
Nashville Sounds (OAK) 67-49
Memphis Redbirds (STL) 56-58
Round Rock Express (TEX) 55-61
New Orleans Zephyrs (MIA) 52-61
*All stats and standings are as of Sunday, August 7.
Leave a Reply