COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- Tony Barnette became the 2nd Pacific Coast League pitcher this season to reach the 12-win plateau Saturday night, as the Reno Aces collected a 6-5 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the series-opener at Security Service Field.
Barnette (12-7) worked seven innings, scattering five runs on six hits. The game was knotted at five through six innings until Reno rallied for the go-ahead run in the seventh. Cole Gillespie led-off the inning with a single, and two batters later he would move to second on a throwing error by Sky Sox third baseman Christian Colonel. With two outs, Reno's Agustin Murillo came up with the clutch base hit, singling to right to chase home Gillespie with the eventual game-winning run.
From there, the Aces bullpen took over. Scott Maine worked a scoreless eighth and Doug Slaten came on to finish things up in the ninth for his seventh save.
Saturday's loss fell to Sky Sox reliever Ryan Speier (1-1), who surrendered the go-ahead, unearned run in the seventh.
At the plate for Reno, Chris Young led the way with three hits, a run and an RBI. Ruben Gotay, Minor League Baseball's walk leader, drew three more bases on balls Saturday night. John Hester drove in two runs and Luke Carlin extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
The Aces' final homestand begins August 31 at Aces Ballpark. For tickets, stop by the Aces Ballpark Box Office, call (775) 334-7000 or visit www.RenoAces.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
