The Aces went 7-4 in their latest 11-game home stand to move to four games under .500 at 52-56, but still trail first-place Fresno by nine games.
Reno has hit the road for a nine-game trip that started in El Paso on Saturday. The trip ends with five games in Tacoma starting Wednesday.
Since getting swept in a four-game set by Salt Lake City coming out of the All-Star game, Reno has won eight of 12 and made up three games on Fresno in the Northern Division. A push in the second-half would be nothing new to the local Triple-A club. Last August, the Aces used a 20-10 month to chase down Sacramento.
This climb is steeper this summer though. Heading into August last year, the Aces sat four back of first place at 60-53. Reno will play 14 of their next 18 on the road, while Fresno plays 14 of the next 18 at home.
Reno will not see Fresno the rest of the way before closing the season Sept. 7.
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 52-56
At Home: 31-24
On the Road: 21-32
Weekly schedule (Aug. 4-Aug. 10)
Aug. 4: AWAY @ El Paso, 6:05 p.m.
Aug. 5: AWAY @ Tacoma, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 6: AWAY @ Tacoma, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 7: AWAY @ Tacoma, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 8: AWAY @ Tacoma, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 9: AWAY @ Tacoma, 1:35 p.m.
Aug. 10: OFF
Notable moves
-Left-handed pitcher Dan Runzel was released. Runzel was 0-1 with a 5.26 ERA over 37 2/3 innings in 39 innings. He handed out 28 free passes compared with 40 strikeouts.
-Right-handed pitcher A.J. Schugel was promoted to Reno from Double-A Mobile. Schugel has struggled in Reno this summer, going 1-5 with a 13.50 ERA over 24 innings of work.
-Right-handed pitcher Adison Reed was recalled to Arizona from Reno. Reed, who was the Diamonbacks’ closer at one point in his career, had a 1.74 ERA with five saves in 10 1/3 innings. He struck out 11 batters and walked five.
Who’s hot?
Danny Dorn. Dorn, who has spent the summer bouncing back and forth between Reno and Arizona, tied a career-high with 5 RBIs in Saturday’s 8-4 win over El Paso. It’s the sixth time he’s accomplished the task in his professional career and the second time he’s done it in an Aces uniform. It’s the eighth time an Aces player has done the deed this season.
Who’s not?
Aces on the road. Reno split the first two games of its nine-game road trip with a 1-1 start in El Paso. Reno is just 21-32 on the road this summer, the main reason it trails first-place Fresno by nine games. Its road record is the worst in the Northern Division.
Pacific Coast League Standings
Pacific Northern
Fresno Grizzlies (HOU) 61-47
Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) 53-56
Reno Aces (ARI) 52-56
Sacramento River Cats (SF) 50-59
Pacific Southern
Las Vegas 51s (NYM) 60-49
El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) 56-52
Albuquerque Isotopes (COL) 48-61
Salt Lake Bees (LAA) 44-65
American Northern
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD) 66-42
Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) 62-47
Iowa Cubs (CHC) 58-50
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (MIL) 43-63
American Southern
Round Rock Express (TEX) 61-46
Memphis Redbirds (STL) 57-52
New Orleans Zephyrs (MIA) 49-60
Nashville Sounds (OAK) 47-62
*All statistics and records are through Sunday, Aug. 2