PCL Reno Aces

Aces Shutout Aviators, 1-0

Published on July 9, 2021 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Reno Aces News Release


RENO, Nev. - The Reno Aces blanked the Las Vegas Aviators for the second time this season, knocking off the visiting team, 1-0.

The Aces held the Aviators off the board for the second time this season, downing the team from Summerlin, 3-0, on May 15. The last time Reno held its opponent scoreless and drove in just one run came on June 22, 2019, against the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Ildemaro Vargas became the all-time total base leader for the Aces with his two hits against the Aviators. The 29-year-old tied Cole Gillespie's 647 total bases in the opening frame with a single before shattering the record with a base knock in the third to overtake first with 648.

Jose Herrera reached base safely for the 22nd-straight game with his walk in the second frame. Juniel Querecuto also extended his hitting streak to four with a single to left in the same inning.

Humberto Mejia picked up his third win of the season, punching out eight batters in his five innings of work. The right-hander's strikeout total marks the 15th time this season an Aces' pitcher has recorded at least five in a game. In such contests, the Biggest Little City's team moved to 13-2 on the year.

Mejia worked himself in and out of trouble in the opening frame, escaping a bases-loaded threat by winning a 10-pitch battle against Vimael Machin, sitting him down on strikes.

Vargas extended his hitting streak to five in the bottom half of the first, then stole second base to move into sixth place for the Aces' all-time lead in stolen bases with 33 career swipes. Vargas was left stranded, keeping the game scoreless.

After a scoreless second, Vargas singled up the middle in the third to become Reno's all-time total base leader. Following a throwing error by Machin to put Drew Ellis on second and Vargas at third, Seth Beer drove in the game's first and only run on a sacrifice fly to deep right.

Following blank fourth and fifth innings, the team from Summerlin smacked back-to-back singles to start the top of the sixth. With runners on first and second, Aces' reliever Brandyn Sittinger forced Luis Barrera to ground into a 4-6-3 double play before striking out Austin Beck to halt the Aviators' threat.

Once again, the Aces found themselves in trouble after a leadoff single by Marty Bechina in the seventh inning. Following a walk to Nate Mondou and a sacrifice bunt by Pete Kozma, Austin Allen worked a two-out walk to load the bases. On a 1-2 pitch, Reno's Luis Castillo forced Carlos Perez to strike out swinging, keeping Las Vegas off the board.

Both teams were held scoreless in the final two innings before Miguel Aguilar came on in the ninth to force a game-ending double play to secure the Aces victory, 1-0. Aguilar picked up his ninth save of the season in one inning of work.

Reno returns to action on Friday against the Las Vegas Aviators, with the first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. PT. Friday's contest can be heard on renoaces.com or locally on KPLY 630 AM with Zack Bayrouty on the call.

Check out the Reno Aces Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 9, 2021


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