Tony Barnette and three Aces relievers combined to shutout the Round Rock Express, 8-0, Monday night in a game that Reno dominated from the start.
Reno jumped ahead 2-0 after one inning thanks to a towering two-run homer to left by Chris Young. The Aces added two more runs in the third on a two-run double by John Hester, and Cole Gillespie added three RBIs later to seal the game and the series win for Reno.
But the story of the game was Barnette (11-7), who earned his league-high-tying 11th victory of the year by throwing six dominant innings of three-hit ball. Jose Marte, Jason Urquidez and Scott Dohmann each threw a scoreless frame to preserve the lead.
The Aces jumped on Round Rock starter Mark McLemore (4-9) for six runs and 10 hits over five innings of work.
Young, Hester, and Gillespie all had multi-RBI games for the Aces, while Abraham Nunez, Ed Rogers and Major League rehabber Eric Byrnes chipped in with two hits apiece.
On Tuesday, Reno opens a four-game set with the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reno will send RHP Daniel Cabrera (0-0, No ERA) to the hill for his Aces debut. Albuquerque's starter is to be determined. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. PT.
For tickets, stop by the Aces Ballpark Box Office, call (775) 334-7000 or visit www.RenoAces.com.
