Down the stretch they come.
Reno missed out on the first five-game sweep in franchise history on Sunday with a 4-3 loss to the Rainiers. A win would’ve most improbably pulled Reno within 1.5 games after entering the series 6.5 back.
Instead, the loss leaves Reno 3.5 games back with eight games to play. The Aces play four in Sacramento, starting Monday, then play four at Tacoma to end the regular season.
Reno is 7-5 against last-place Sacramento this year, but lost three of four against the River Cats before the five-game set with Tacoma. The Aces are 9-3 against the Rainiers.
Tacoma will play host Fresno for a four-game set before Reno enters Cheney Stadium.
With both Tacoma and Reno playing just eight more regular season games, the 1/2 game difference is from a 2-2 Tacoma tie in New Orleans in May.
Last week: 4-3
Overall: 73-63
Home: 41-31
Away: 32-32
Upcoming Schedule (August 29 – September 5)
August 29: AWAY at Sacramento 7:05 p.m.
August 30: AWAY at Sacramento 7:05 p.m.
August 31: AWAY at Sacramento 7:05 p.m.
September 1: AWAY at Sacramento 7:05 p.m.
September 2: AWAY at Tacoma 7:05 p.m.
September 3: AWAY at Tacoma 7:05 p.m.
September 4: AWAY at Tacoma 1:35 p.m.
September 5: AWAY at Tacoma 1:35 p.m.
Notable moves
-OF A.J. Pollock, 28, was reinstated from his Major League rehab assignment in Reno. Pollock was originally placed in the disabled list in April with a fractured right elbow. Pollock appeared in four games with the Aces, going 8-for-18 (.444) with a home run and eight RBIs. Last year with the Diamondbacks, Pollock batted .315 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs.
-OF Mitch Haniger, 25, was optioned from Arizona to Reno. Haniger has appeared in 10 games for the Diamondbacks, going 9-for-38 (.237) with two doubles and six RBIs. In Reno this year, Haniger has played in 67 games. He’s batting .345 with 19 home runs and 59 RBIs.
-LHP Steve Hathaway, 25, was optioned from Arizona to Reno. Hathaway has thrown 9.1 innings in 14 games with the Diamondbacks, compiling a 5.79 ERA. With the Aces, Hathaway 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA over 26.1 innings.
Who’s hot?
-Zach Borenstein. He hit a game-winning pinch-hit two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday against Tacoma. It was Borenstein’s ninth pinch hit of the year, tops on the club.
Who’s not?
-Anthony Banda. Reno’s starter on Sunday uncorked a trio of wild pitches in one at bat with the bases loaded that allowed three runs to score in the top of the third. The three runs proved to be the difference in a 4-3 loss to Tacoma. The defeat in the final game at Greater Nevada Field this season dropped the Aces 3.5 games out of first place.
Pacific Coast League Standings
Pacific Northern
Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) 76-59
Reno Aces (ARI) 73-63
Fresno Grizzlies (HOU) 69-65
Sacramento River Cats (SF) 64-71
Pacific Southern
El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) 70-64
Albuquerque Isotopes (COL) 65-68
Las Vegas 51s (NYM) 65-71
Salt Lake Bees (LAA) 59-74
American Northern
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD) 75-59
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (MIL) 64-67
Iowa Cubs (CHC) 62-73
Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) 57-76
American Southern
Nashville Sounds (OAK) 80-56
New Orleans Zephyrs (MIA) 67-67
Round Rock Express (TEX) 67-69
Memphis Redbirds (STL) 62-73
*All stats and standings are as of Sunday, August 28.
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