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 Reno Aces

Freeman's Walk-Off Homer Is a Winner

April 19, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Reno Aces News Release


RENO - With the Reno Aces ( @Aces ) in need of an early-season win, center fielder Mike Freeman ( @MikeBFree5 ) played the hero role with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to give Reno a 5-4 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes (7-4) Sunday afternoon at Aces Ballpark.

Freeman's home run came on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth, just moments after the Isotopes tied the game in the top of the ninth with a run off Aces closer Jake Barrett ( @BJBace99 ).

Starting pitcher Vidal Nuño delivered a gem on the mound for a staff that needed a solid starting performance. The left-hander struck out nine batters over 6 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs.

Coming into the Sunday matinee, Aces' starters owned a 17.35 ERA over the last four games. The last quality start came from Nuño when the team was in El Paso. He allowed a solo run in the second inning after a leadoff triple by Angelys Nina. The other run came in the seventh when Brandon Barnes launched a one-out solo blast into the right-field bullpen.

For the first time in the series, the Aces (5-6) led first. Doubles from Danny Dorn and Nick Evans netted Reno a 1-0 lead after one frame.

Nina's triple and Tim Wheeler's RBI groundout knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. It didn't take long for Reno to regain the lead. It looked like the Aces would have the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the second. After a Mike Freeman single, Nina failed to handle the throw in from right field, allowing Danny Worth to trot home from third.

In the third, Peter O'Brien led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a throwing error by left fielder Kyle Parker. Two batters later, Zach Borenstein delivered a run-scoring single to right-center, giving the Aces a 3-1 lead.

It remained 3-1 until Barnes hit the solo homer in the seventh to cut the Aces' lead to 3-2. Manager Phil Nevin summoned Dan Runzler from the bullpen with two outs and the left-hander struck out Nina with a pair of runners on to end the frame.

The Aces added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when O'Brien was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Albuquerque came back with a run in the top of the eighth off Runzler to pull within one again at 4-3.

Closer Jake Barrett came in for the ninth and promptly allowed a single to Barnes and a game-tying double to Cristhian Adames. The right-hander buckled down with Adames standing at third. He struck out Ben Paulsen and got Nina to bounce out to third.

The two teams wrap up their four-game series tomorrow night at Aces Ballpark, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. Reno will send left-hander Robbie Ray (0-1, 4.15) to the bump against Albuquerque right-hander Jon Gray (0-1, 9.00).

Ticket packages are on-sale now at www.RenoAces.com or by calling (775) 334-4700. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the season, follow the club on Twitter ( @aces ) or like the team on Facebook .


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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 19, 2015


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