Maybe the all-star break was what the Aces needed.
After starting the month of July with a 4-6 record and dropping to third place in the Pacific Northern division, Reno started the second half of the season last week by taking three of four games from Oklahoma City at Greater Nevada Field.
The Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate entered the series with a seven game lead in the American Northern division – the largest lead in the Pacific Coast League – and a 27-15 record away from home.
While the strong start to the latter half of the season was certainly preferred, it didn’t do much for the Aces in the standings. They did move into a tie for second place with Fresno but remain 4.5 games back of Tacoma, which has won six straight.
Reno will continue to try to close the gap against Colorado Springs this week. The four-game set started Monday and ends Thursday. The Aces then go to Las Vegas for a quick four-game set then return back to Greater Nevada Field next Tuesday for an eight-game home stand (four against Sacramento, Fresno).
Last week: 3-1
Overall: 49-45
Home: 26-21
Away: 23-24
Upcoming Schedule (July 19-25)
July 19: HOME vs Colorado Springs 7:05 p.m.
July 20: HOME vs Colorado Springs 7:05 p.m.
July 21: HOME vs Colorado Springs 7:05 p.m.
July 22: AWAY at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.
July 23: AWAY at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.
July 24: AWAY at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.
July 25: AWAY at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.
Notable moves
-UTL Mike Freeman, 28, was called up by Arizona and is playing in the bigs for the first time in his career. Freeman, a career .290 hitter, is batting .317 for the Aces this summer, with one home run, 24 RBIs and 17 doubles.
-LHP Edwin Escobar, 24, was recalled by Arizona. Escobar had a brief stint with the big club a month and a half ago, but gave up 11 runs on 15 hits in just seven innings. He made his third appearance with the Diamondbacks on Friday, allowing two runs on one hit in just .1 of an inning against the Dodgers. In Reno, Escobar is 5-2 with a 5.08 ERA over 11 starts.
-LHP Anthony Banda, 22, was reinstated from the temporarily inactive list after he participated in the United States-World Futures Game in San Diego during the all-star break. Banda is 0-2 with a 6.60 ERA in three starts for the Aces.
-OF Todd Glaesmann, 25, was reinstated from the disabled list and transferred to Double-A Mobile. In 48 games with the Aces this season, Glaesmann is batting .275 two home runs and 20 RBIs.
Who’s hot?
-Mike Freeman. After 716 career minor league games over seven seasons, the utility man was called up to the big leagues for the first time on Sunday. Freeman ranks among the Aces’ all-time leaders in games played for hitters (third, 272), hits (third, 301), at-bats (third, 957), runs scored (fourth, 172), doubles (fifth, 51), triples (second, 18) and total bases (fifth, 403).
Who’s not?
-Kaleb Fleck. The 27-year-old reliever entered Friday’s contest against Oklahoma City in the top of the eighth inning with the Aces trailing 4-3. Fleck gave up a three-run bomb and Reno went on to lose 9-3 – its only defeat of the series against Oklahoma City. Fleck has an 8.74 ERA over his last 10 outings.
Pacific Coast League Standings
Pacific Northern
Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) 53-40
Fresno Grizzlies (HOU) 48-44
Reno Aces (ARI) 49-45
Sacramento River Cats (SF) 40-55
Pacific Southern
El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) 54-40
Las Vegas 51s (NYM) 49-44
Salt Lake Bees (LAA) 44-48
Albuquerque Isotopes (COL) 41-53
American Northern
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD) 53-40
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (MIL) 44-47
Iowa Cubs (CHC) 42-53
Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) 40-53
American Southern
Nashville Sounds (OAK) 52-43
Round Rock Express (TEX) 48-47
New Orleans Zephyrs (MIA) 45-47
Memphis Redbirds (STL) 45-48
*All stats and standings are as of Sunday, July 17.
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