After Thursday’s high scoring affair, the second game of the 51s four-game series against the Aces Friday started as more of a pitcher’s duel. Vegas right-hander Tyler Pill matched zeroes with Reno starter Gabriel Arias for the first three innings. Each pitcher had to work around baserunners, but it wasn’t until two outs in the fourth that either team could break through.
After a lead-off walk in the fourth, Pill recorded two outs on fly balls before Reno shortstop Danny Worth homered to right field giving the Aces a 2-0 lead. After that blip however, Pill strung up three more scoreless before leaving for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh. With a final line of two runs on six hits in seven innings of work, Pill turned in his second consecutive solid outing. He walked six, but was helped out by his defense which turned two double plays.
Meanwhile Arias kept the 51s off the board through six. In the seventh, Arias allowed a slow roller to third by left fielder Jayce Boyd and a single to to right by T.J. Rivera. Arias was relieved with two on by Kaleb Fleck, who struck out pinch hitter Travis Taijeron. But then shortstop Wilfredo Tovar reached on a throwing error by Reno first baseman Danny Dorn to load the bases. Second baseman Matt Reynolds drove in the 51s first run with a sacrifice fly to right. Fleck was lifted for Dan Runzler who then gave up an RBI single to catcher Johnny Monell. Tovar got caught up between second and third on the play and was tagged out after a rundown to end the inning, but the game was tied 2-2.
Righty Jon Velasquez came on to pitch a scoreless eighth and got the first two outs in the ninth before lefty Scott Rice was brought in to face pinch hitter Todd Glaesmann. Rice threw one pitch and got Glaesmann to line out to Rivera at third base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rivera led off with a double off of Matt Stites. After first attempting to bunt, Cory Vaughn managed to work a walk. Tovar then bunted successfully for a hit, when his bunt stalled in the grass about ten feet from the plate. With the bases loaded, and still no one out, the Aces played a five-man infield configuration, but Reynolds knocked in the game winner when he singled against the wall in right. As he rounded first, his 51s teammates converged upon him in short centerfield to celebrate the walk-off win.
Reynolds was 1-4 with a sac fly and 2 RBI. Monell was 2-3 with a walk and an RBI. Rivera and right fielder Brandon Allen each also had two hits. Scott Rice collected the win in relief after throwing only one pitch.
The series against Reno continues Saturday as Matthew Bowman looks to bounce back from his last start.
(All photos by Amanda Santana)