Baseball: Rally pushes Aces past Sky Sox

RENO, Nev."Alex Romero tripled twice and finished with four hits as the Reno Aces bounced back from an early deficit and rallied late for an 8-5 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Thursday night at Aces Ballpark.

The Aces dug themselves an early hole on Thursday, falling behind 4-0 in the first inning. But Reno would show some life. The Aces scored three times in the fourth inning, then tied the score with a run in the sixth. After Colorado Springs went back on top with a run in the seventh, Reno exploded for four runs in the eighth to take its first lead, an advantage the Aces wouldn't relinquish.

Reno saw its bullpen corps perform admirably on Thursday, after starter Cesar Valdez left the game after four innings with the Sky Sox on top 4-0. Jose Marte worked two hitless frames, striking out three. After Jon Coutlangus allowed a run in the seventh, Leo Rosales and Esmerling Vasquez came on to keep the Sky Sox silent over the final 2.2 frames. Rosales (2-1) picked up the win, and Vasquez earned the save, his first since July 4, 2005 as a member of the Single-A South Bend Silver Hawks.

The loss fell to Colorado Springs right-hander Franklin Nunez, who surrendered four runs on two hits with two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Brandon Hynick lasted 5.1 innings for the Sox, allowing four runs on six hits. Hynick walked one and punched out six.

For Reno at the plate, Romero tripled twice and singled twice, while scoring two runs and driving in two more as part of a 4-for-5 effort at the plate. The 6-7-8 hitters in the Reno lineup each had two hits, combining to go 6-for-10 on the evening.

The series comes to a finale on Friday night from Aces Ballpark. The Aces give the nod to LHP Evan MacLane (0-1, 4.50 ERA), while the Sky Sox send RHP Alan Johnson (2-0, 0.73 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. Tomorrow's game is a Fireworks Friday, presented by KOLO 8.