With offense clicking, Aces win five of seven
Pitching against the Aces isn’t a lot of fun right now.
Reno leads the Pacific Coast League in RBIs (96) and total bases (287), is second in team batting average (.296) as well as hits (197) and runs (98), and is third in home runs (20).
Three Aces sit in the top ten in batting average: Ketel Marte (.419, second), Oswaldo Arcia (.375, ninth) and Carlos Rivero (.372, 10th).
First-year Ace Christian Walker leads the PCL in RBIs with 21. He smacked an RBI single in the top of the first on Sunday in El Paso to spark a four-run frame.
That was all Arizona No. 1 prospect Anthony Banda, 23, needed as the Aces prevailed, 4-3. Banda allowed three runs on four hits over 5.2 innings and picked up his second win thanks the bullpen throwing a final 3.1 scoreless.
Banda did walk four, but struck out 11 – his personal best at the Triple-A level.
The Aces won five of seven last week and sit just a half-game back of Tacoma for first place in the Pacific Northern Division.
They put a bow on the eight-game road trip Tuesday night in El Paso, have Wednesday off, then return to Greater Nevada Field on Thursday to start a nine-game homestand. Fresno comes to town for five games followed by a four-game series with Salt Lake.
Last week: 5-2
Overall: 10-8
Home: 4-3
Away: 6-5
Upcoming Schedule (April 24 – May 1)
April 24: AWAY at El Paso 5:35 p.m.
April 25: AWAY at El Paso 5:35 p.m.
April 26: OFF
April 27: HOME vs Fresno 6:35 p.m.
April 28: HOME vs Fresno 6:35 p.m.
April 29: HOME vs Fresno 6:35 p.m.
April 30: HOME vs Fresno 1:05 p.m.
May 1: HOME vs Fresno 6:35 p.m.
Notable Moves
-RHP Jake Winston, 23, was transferred for Extended-A Visalia to Reno. The Diamondbacks’ 17th-round draft pick last year (out of Southern Mississippi) made his Triple-A debut last Tuesday, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over two innings in a 7-4 win at Albuquerque. He threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth in Thursday’s 8-3 loss to the Isotopes.
Who’s hot?
Jack Reinheimer. The Aces shortstop, acquired by Arizona in June of 2015 in a trade with Seattle, thumped is 500th professional hit on Thursday night in Albuquerque. Reinheimer, 24, didn’t reach the milestone with a weak infield single or a blooper behind second base. No. He belted a two-run home run in the top of the first. It was already his third of the season – two shy of his career best.
Who’s not?
Late-inning bats. The Aces ended the week with second-best team batting average in the Pacific Coast League (.296), but it hasn’t amounted to late-inning magic. Reno is 1-5 when trailing after six innings and 0-6 when trailing through seven.
Pacific Coast League Standings
Pacific Northern
Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) 10-7
Reno Aces (ARI) 10-8
Fresno Grizzlies (HOU) 9-9
Sacramento River Cats (SF) 6-11
Pacific Southern
Salt Lake Bees (LAA) 11-7
Las Vegas 51s (NYM) 9-9
Albuquerque Isotopes (COL) 8-10
El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) 8-10
American Northern
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (MIL) 11-5
Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) 10-7
Iowa Cubs (CHC) 9-9
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD) 8-9
American Southern
Memphis Redbirds (STL) 10-8
Round Rock Express (TEX) 8-10
New Orleans Baby Cakes (MIA) 7-11
Nashville Sounds (OAK) 6-10
*All stats and standings are as of Sunday, April 23.
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