Gunkel Deals 'Cakes to Win over Aces
August 8, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release
Joe Gunkel continued his solid second half by pitching into the eighth inning, and the New Orleans Baby Cakes beat the Reno Aces on Thursday night, 6-3.
Since returning to the starting rotation on June 21 after spending nearly two months on the injured list, Gunkel owns a 3.26 ERA, second-best in the Pacific Coast League in that span. The right-hander gave up just three baserunners in blanking Reno over the first five innings on Thursday, and won for the fourth time in his last five starts.
Gunkel (5-1) worked a season-high 7 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Kyle Keller and Brett Graves combined to strike out three of the game's final five batters to nail down the Baby Cakes' sixth victory in seven tries in August.
The 'Cakes provided him a lead just two batters into the game, after Jesus Sanchez led off with a single and Eddy Alvarez homered for the second time in as many nights. Alvarez also singled and scored in the third inning and is batting .422 over his last 11 contests.
New Orleans stretched its lead to 4-0 in the fourth when Sanchez delivered a two-out RBI single.
Home runs by Joshua Rojas leading off the sixth and Andy Young leading off the seventh sandwiched Tyler Heinieman's solo blast in the bottom of the sixth, and Heineman added an insurance tally in the eighth inning by drawing a walk and scoring on Gabriel Guerrero's double play grounder.
Riley Smith (2-1) took the loss for Reno after yielding five runs and 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The 'Cakes and Aces play the rubber match of the three-game set on Friday at 7 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 8, 2019
- Brugman Back on Track, Tacoma Drops Second-Straight to Dodgers - Tacoma Rainiers
- Missions Lose in Extras to the 'Topes - San Antonio Missions
- Albuquerque Downs San Antonio in 10 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Bees Sting Chasers 12-11 in Ten - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Chasers Top Bees 8-6 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- I-Cubs Fly Past Aviators - Iowa Cubs
- Garlick Homers Dodgers into Lead in 7-3 Win - Oklahoma City Comets
- Another Two Homer Night for Hermosillo - Salt Lake Bees
- Gunkel Deals 'Cakes to Win over Aces - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Reno Bats Come Back to Earth in Loss to New Orleans - Reno Aces
- Nashville Sounds Game Information: Nashville Sounds (48-65) at Fresno Grizzlies (54-61) - Nashville Sounds
- Isotopes, Vitalent to Hold Blood Drive Monday - Albuquerque Isotopes
- River Cats Continue Playoff Chase as Regular Season Enters Final Month - Sacramento River Cats
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - August 8, 2019 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Game Notes: San Antonio Missions at Albuquerque Isotopes - San Antonio Missions
- Memphis Redbirds (51-64) at Sacramento River Cats (62-53) - Memphis Redbirds
- Aviators Rally Past Iowa 8-6, Take over First Place - Las Vegas Aviators
- De Goti, Express Pound Chihuahuas - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Grizzlies out of tune in 12-3 defeat to Sounds - Fresno Grizzlies
- E-Train 2B Alex De Goti Hits for the Cycle in 20-12 Victory over Chihuahuas - Round Rock Express
- Road Trip Starts with Nine-Run Win for Sounds - Nashville Sounds
- Rodriguez goes seven strong in River Cats win - Sacramento River Cats
- Arozarena on Base in 34-Straight Starts - Memphis Redbirds
- Missions Offense Carries Team to Win in Alburquerque - San Antonio Missions
- Hermosillo Two Homer Night Snaps Skid - Salt Lake Bees
- Isotopes Open Homestand with 14-7 Loss - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Late Offense Boosts Las Vegas over Iowa - Iowa Cubs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent New Orleans Baby Cakes Stories
- Cakes Win Finale
- 'Cakes Defeat OKC
- Baby Cakes Fall in Home Finale
- Redbirds Roll Behind Seven-Run Seventh
- 'Cakes Split Doubleheader with Memphis
