PCL1 Reno Aces

Aces Lose Series After Dodgers' Late Rally

Published on August 22, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Reno Aces News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - A series split evaded the Reno Aces (@Aces) when they fell to the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 5-2, Saturday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The Dodgers (77-50) broke open a 1-1 game with a pair of runs in the sixth inning and a two-run homer from Jose Tabata in the seventh to secure their third win of the four-game series.

Mike Freeman (@MikeBFree5) sparked a first inning rally for the Aces (61-66) when he led off the game with a line drive single to right-field to extend his hitting streak to ten games. He moved to second when Jordan Pacheco (@Jstylep) followed with a walk. After Dodgers starter Eric Surkamp struck out Nick Evans for the first out, Jamie Romak came through with a run-scoring single to left to put the Aces in front, 1-0.

Reno starter Aaron Blair (@A_Blair19) cruised through the first two innings, facing the minimum six batters.

Oklahoma City got on the board in the third thanks to a leadoff single from Kyle Jensen. A walk and a fielder's choice put Jensen at third for Darwin Barney who sent a single to right-field to score Jensen with the tying run.

The Aces put two runners on base in the fourth and sixth innings against Surkamp but couldn't push anything across.

It was a 1-1 game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Blair issued a leadoff walk to Barney. He stole second base and went to third on a groundout. The next batter, Andy Wilkins, lifted a high fly ball down the left-field line that Peter O'Brien raced over for and got a glove on, but dropped. Barney scored on what was ruled a double to give Oklahoma City a 2-1 lead.

With still only one out in the inning, Austin Barnes followed with a single to put runners at the corners for Scott Schebler. The center fielder came through with a high chopper to second to score Wilkins and make it a 3-1 game.

Kevin Munson (@GOTMUNEY) relieved Blair and immediately found trouble in the seventh. O'Koyea Dickson singled to start the inning, and Tabata blasted a two-run homer to lengthen the Dodgers' lead to 5-1.

Surkamp was finished after six solid innings in favor of Adam Liberatore. The left-hander worked a scoreless seventh inning but then yielded a solo homer to Jamie Romak in the eighth. Romak's 24th home run of the season cut the deficit to 5-2.

That's as close as the Aces would get as Liberatore retired the next two batters in order, and Juan Gonzalez tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to lock down the win.

Surkamp allowed one run over his six innings and picked up the win to improve to 7-3. Blair was tagged with the loss, dropping his record to 6-2.

The aces return home Sunday to start an eight-game homestand when they welcome in the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, the Nashville Sounds, for four games. Right-hander Allen Webster (3-5, 8.58) starts for the Aces against right-hander Aaron Brooks (0-0, 3.60) for the Sounds. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

Group outings 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 August 22, 2015


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