Melendez Crushes Grand Slam in Triple-A Debut, Drake Deals as Aces Sit Down Aviators, 14-8
PCL Reno Aces

Melendez Crushes Grand Slam in Triple-A Debut, Drake Deals as Aces Sit Down Aviators, 14-8

August 2, 2025 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Reno Aces News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Ivan Melendez wasted no time making noise in his Triple-A debut, launching a grand slam and collecting three hits to help power the Reno Aces (11-21, 48-59) to a commanding 14-8 win over the Las Vegas Aviators (13-19, 62-45) on Saturday night at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Melendez, nicknamed "The Hispanic Titanic," put Reno firmly in control with a towering slam to center in the fourth inning, part of a 3-for-6 night that marked one of the Aces' most explosive individual performances of the season. He earned his promotion from Double-A Amarillo after slashing .258/.348/.480 with six doubles, six home runs, and 43 RBI over 71 games.

Left-hander Khol Drake was steady in his Aces debut, earning the win after holding Las Vegas to four runs across 5 2/3 innings. He allowed a solo homer to Willie MacIver in the second before settling in and keeping the Aviators quiet until MacIver struck again with a three-run blast in the sixth. Drake, acquired from Texas in the deadline deal that sent Merrill Kelly to the Rangers, now holds a 5.48 ERA with 22 strikeouts and seven walks in 23 total innings between Reno and Round Rock.

AJ Vukovich stayed red-hot at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a two-run double in the fifth. The outfielder has come alive over the past few weeks and is now hitting .394 (28-for-71) with 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBI in his last 19 games.

Juan Corniel chipped in with a 2-for-6 night, driving in a pair with a double as part of a strong series performance-he's 6-for-18 (.333) with three extra-base hits and seven RBI.

Sergio Alcántara added three hits of his own, including an RBI double that scored Kristian Robinson in the third. Since reuniting with Reno on July 23, the veteran switch-hitter is batting .407 (11-for-27) with two doubles, a triple, and three RBI.

Seth Brown rounded out the trio of three-hit nights after singling home Corniel in the eighth. He's provided a steady presence since joining Reno on July 4, slashing .309/.411/.543 with five doubles, four homers, and 17 RBI.

The Aces will aim to secure the series win in Sunday's finale. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. PST.

Notable Aces:

Ivan Melendez: 3-for-6, 1 HR, 5 RBI

AJ Vukovich: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Juan Corniel: 2-for-6, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Sergio Alcantara: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Seth Brown: 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Andy Weber: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Kohl Drake: W (2), 5.2, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Single-game tickets are sold at RenoAces.com, the Greater Nevada Field Ticket Office, or by texting "TIXX" to 21003. Season Memberships are available via RenoAces.com, texting "MEMBER" to 21003, or calling (775) 334-7000.

-ACES-

RNO @ LV | Box Score | MLB Research Tool

8/2/25, 10: 26 -¯ PM RNO @ LV | Box Score | MLB Research Tool Page 1 of 2 https://research.mlb.com/games/780057/box-score#orgId=11&boxscoreType=PBP Reno Aces 14, Las Vegas Aviators 8 Aug 2nd, 2025 Aces starting lineup: Albert Almora Jr. (CF), Andy Weber (3B), Seth Brown (LF), René Pinto (C), A.J. Vukovich (DH), Kristian Robinson (RF), Ivan Melendez (1B), Sergio Alcántara (SS), Juan Corniel (2B), Kohl Drake (P), Aviators starting lineup: Nick Martini (RF), Alejo Lopez (LF), Zack Gelof (2B), Brett Harris (3B), Willie MacIver (1B), Daniel Susac (C), Henry Bolte (CF), Euribiel Angeles (SS), Colby Halter (DH), Kade Morris (P), Umpires -- HP: Pete Talkington. 1B: Trevor Dannegger. 3B: Ray Patchen.

Gametime Weather: 99 degrees, Clear.

Wind: 7 mph, Out To LF.

First pitch by Kade Morris at 7:06 PM. local time.

Aces 1st (Aces 0, Aviators 0) -- Albert Almora Jr. grounds out, Brett Harris to Willie MacIver. Andy Weber strikes out swinging. Seth Brown singles to left field. René Pinto doubles to left field, Seth Brown to 3rd. A.J. Vukovich walks. Kristian Robinson struck out looking.

(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB) Aviators 1st (Aces 0, Aviators 0) -- Nick Martini struck out looking. Alejo Lopez singles to right field. Alejo Lopez out at 2nd, René Pinto to Juan Corniel. Zack Gelof reaches on fielding error by Kristian Robinson, Zack Gelof to 2nd. Brett Harris pops out to Ivan Melendez in foul territory.

(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB) Aces 2nd (Aces 1, Aviators 0) -- Ivan Melendez strikes out on foul tip. Sergio Alcántara singles to right-center field. Juan Corniel flies out to Alejo Lopez. Albert Almora Jr.

walks, Sergio Alcántara to 2nd. Andy Weber singles to right-center field, Sergio Alcántara scores; Albert Almora Jr. to 3rd. Seth Brown flies out to Alejo Lopez.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB) Aviators 2nd (Aces 1, Aviators 1) -- Willie MacIver hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch. Daniel Susac strikes out swinging. Henry Bolte struck out looking. Euribiel Angeles grounds out, Juan Corniel to Ivan Melendez.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aces 3rd (Aces 2, Aviators 1) -- René Pinto walks. A.J. Vukovich strikes out swinging. Kristian Robinson grounds into a force out, Euribiel Angeles to Zack Gelof, René Pinto out at 2nd. Ivan Melendez singles to center field, Kristian Robinson to 3rd. Sergio Alcántara doubles to right field, Kristian Robinson scores; Ivan Melendez to 3rd.

Juan Corniel grounds out, Zack Gelof to Willie MacIver.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB) Aviators 3rd (Aces 2, Aviators 1) -- Colby Halter lines out to Ivan Melendez. Nick Martini lines out to Kristian Robinson. Alejo Lopez flies out to Kristian Robinson.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aces 4th (Aces 7, Aviators 1) -- Pitcher Change: Will Johnston replaces Kade Morris. Albert Almora Jr. grounds out, Euribiel Angeles to Willie MacIver. Andy Weber walks. Seth Brown singles to left field, Andy Weber to 2nd. René Pinto grounds into a force out, Euribiel Angeles to Zack Gelof, Andy Weber to 3rd; Seth Brown out at 2nd. A.J. Vukovich singles to left field, Andy Weber scores; René Pinto to 2nd. Kristian Robinson walks, René Pinto to 3rd; A.J. Vukovich to 2nd. Ivan Melendez hits a grand slam to right-center field on a 2-1 pitch, René Pinto scores; A.J. Vukovich scores; Kristian Robinson scores. Sergio Alcántara singles to left-center field. Pitcher Change: Tanner Dodson replaces Will Johnston. Juan Corniel grounds out, Zack Gelof to Willie MacIver.

(5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) Aviators 4th (Aces 7, Aviators 1) -- Zack Gelof grounds out, Juan Corniel to Ivan Melendez. Brett Harris grounds out, Andy Weber to Ivan Melendez. Willie MacIver singles through the hole at shortstop. Daniel Susac lines out to Seth Brown.

(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) Aces 5th (Aces 12, Aviators 1) -- Albert Almora Jr. lines out to Henry Bolte. Andy Weber doubles to right field. Seth Brown pops out to Euribiel Angeles. René Pinto walks.

A.J. Vukovich doubles to right-center field, Andy Weber scores; René Pinto scores. Kristian Robinson walks. Ivan Melendez singles to deep shortstop, A.J. Vukovich scores; Kristian Robinson to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Carlos Duran replaces Tanner Dodson. Sergio Alcántara walks, Kristian Robinson to 3rd; Ivan Melendez to 2nd. Juan Corniel singles to right-center field, Kristian Robinson scores; Ivan Melendez scores; Sergio Alcántara to 3rd. Albert Almora Jr. struck out looking.

(5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB) Aviators 5th (Aces 12, Aviators 1) -- Henry Bolte strikes out swinging. Euribiel Angeles grounds out, Juan Corniel to Ivan Melendez. Colby Halter singles to shallow left field, Colby Halter out at 2nd, Sergio Alcántara to Juan Corniel.

(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aces 6th (Aces 12, Aviators 1) -- Defensive switch from shortstop to 3rd for Euribiel Angeles. Defensive Substitution: Drew Swift replaces third baseman Brett Harris, batting 4th, playing shortstop. Andy Weber flies out to Alejo Lopez. Seth Brown walks. René Pinto strikes out swinging. A.J. Vukovich grounds out to Willie MacIver.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) Aviators 6th (Aces 12, Aviators 4) -- Nick Martini hit by pitch. Alejo Lopez flies out to Seth Brown. Zack Gelof strikes out swinging. Drew Swift walks, Nick Martini to 2nd.

Willie MacIver hits a home run to right field on a 2-2 pitch, Nick Martini scores; Drew Swift scores. Pitcher Change: Alfred Morillo replaces Kohl Drake. Daniel Susac strikes out swinging.

(3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aces 7th (Aces 12, Aviators 4) -- Kristian Robinson grounds out, Euribiel Angeles to Willie MacIver. Ivan Melendez strikes out swinging. Sergio Alcántara struck out looking.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aviators 7th (Aces 12, Aviators 4) -- Henry Bolte grounds out, Andy Weber to Ivan Melendez. Euribiel Angeles grounds out to Ivan Melendez. Colby Halter flies out to Albert Almora Jr.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aces 8th (Aces 14, Aviators 4) -- Juan Corniel doubles to left-center field. Albert Almora Jr. walks. Pitcher Change: David Leal replaces Carlos Duran. Andy Weber grounds into a force out, Drew Swift to Zack Gelof, Juan Corniel to 3rd; Albert Almora Jr. out at 2nd. Seth Brown singles to right-center field, Juan Corniel scores; Andy

8/2/25, 10: 26 -¯ PM RNO @ LV | Box Score | MLB Research Tool Page 2 of 2 https://research.mlb.com/games/780057/box-score#orgId=11&boxscoreType=PBP Weber to 3rd. René Pinto strikes out swinging. A.J. Vukovich walks, Seth Brown to 2nd. Andy Weber scores on a balk; Seth Brown advances to 3rd on a balk; A.J.

Vukovich advances to 2nd on a balk. Kristian Robinson strikes out swinging.

(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB) Aviators 8th (Aces 14, Aviators 8) -- Nick Martini singles to right-center field. Nick Martini advances to 2nd on defensive indi ! erence. Alejo Lopez walks. Wild pitch by Alfred Morillo, Nick Martini to 3rd; Alejo Lopez to 2nd. Zack Gelof strikes out on foul tip. Drew Swift struck out looking. Pitcher Change: Hayden Durke replaces Alfred Morillo. Willie MacIver singles up the middle, Nick Martini scores; Alejo Lopez scores. Daniel Susac hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch, Willie MacIver scores.

Henry Bolte lines out to Albert Almora Jr.

(4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aces 9th (Aces 14, Aviators 8) -- Ivan Melendez strikes out swinging, Ivan Melendez to 1st;passed ball by Daniel Susac. Sergio Alcántara grounds into double play, Drew Swift to Zack Gelof to Willie MacIver, Ivan Melendez out at 2nd, Sergio Alcántara out at 1st. Juan Corniel grounds out, Zack Gelof to Willie MacIver.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) Aviators 9th (Aces 14, Aviators 8) -- Euribiel Angeles grounds out, Sergio Alcántara to Ivan Melendez. Colby Halter strikes out on foul tip. Nick Martini flies out to Seth Brown.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) WP: Kohl Drake (2 - 1) LP: Kade Morris (3 - 5) Time: 3:08.

Attendance: 7,654.

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