PCL Reno Aces

Ellis, Fairchild homer twice in Reno's 11-8 victory over Sacramento

Published on June 30, 2021 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Reno Aces News Release


SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On the back of multi-home run games from Drew Ellis and Stuart Fairchild, the Reno Aces toppled the Sacramento River Cats, 11-8, in their series finale on Tuesday.

The duo became the first set of Aces to hit two home runs in the same game since May 20, 2019, when Yasmany Tomàs and Kevin Cron hit four and two, respectively, against Nashville. Ellis and Fairchild smacked four of the game's 10 homers.

Reno erased a deficit of three or more runs for the 13th time this season, boasting a 10-3 record in such contests.

Edgar Arredondo picked up his first Triple-A win with an inning of work out of the bullpen, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out one River Cat.

The Aces and the River Cats exchanged tallies in the opening two frames, posting a combined six runs on six hits. After Kole Calhoun reached on a fielder's choice in the opening frame, Ellis drilled a 2-0 pitch to left-center, taking Scott Kazmir deep for a 2-0 advantage.

Sacramento quickly responded in the bottom half of the first with a leadoff solo home run by Braden Bishop to cut the Aces' lead in half, 2-1.

Stuart Fairchild smashed a two-run shot in the top of the second following Jamie Ritchie's 20th walk of June, lifting Reno to a 4-1 edge.

For the second-straight inning, the River Cats cut its deficit in half, 4-2, on a solo homer as Bryce Johnson sent one over the right-center field wall.

After a scoreless third frame and top of the fourth, Sacramento took its first lead of the game, 7-4, on a two-run home run by Peter Maris and a three-run shot from Jaylin Davis.

The Aces erased the three-run deficit in the top of the fifth and knotted the game at seven. After a leadoff, pinch-hit walk to Ben DeLuzio, Ildemaro Vargas recorded his fourth hit in as many games with a single to right to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, Ellis clobbered his second home run of the contest, taking the River Cats deep for a three-run shot.

The deadlock at seven did not last long as Arismendy Alcantara homered to right in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-7 lead.

Reno responded in the top of the sixth and reclaimed the lead, taking a 9-8 advantage on Fairchild's second dinger of the night following a leadoff single by Ritchie.

Both teams were held scoreless through the eighth until Ben DeLuzio smacked the game's 10th home run in the top of the ninth, a solo shot to left that extended the Aces' lead to two, 10-8. After Jake McCarthy recorded his first Triple-A triple, Vargas knocked in the Aces' outfielder on a sacrifice fly to center and bumped the Reno advantage to three, 11-8.

Luis Castillo came on in the ninth, forced a double play and picked up his first Triple-A save.

Reno returns to action on Thursday against the Tacoma Rainiers, with the first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. PT. Thursday's contest can be heard on renoaces.com or locally on KPLY 630 AM with Zack Bayrouty on the call.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 30, 2021


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