RENO, Nev.- John Hester homered twice and Reno scored five runs in the first, but the effort fell short Monday night, as the Portland Beavers topped the Aces 8-7 in 10 innings in the series opener at Aces Ballpark.
Reno led 5-0 after an inning and 6-0 through three frames. The Beavers fired back with five runs of their own in the fourth and one more in the fifth to tie the score at 6-6.
In the home half of the fifth, Hester hit his second home run of the ballgame, a bomb that hit the top of the scoreboard in left-center at Aces Ballpark. That put Reno back on top by a run, and the lead stood until the ninth, when Portland's Chad Huffman tied the score again with a 2-out RBI double.
In the 10th, Portland lead-off man Mike Baxter hit a 2-out RBI double to chase home Matt Antonelli with the go-ahead and, ultimately, game-winning run.
Reid Mahon (0-1) took the loss for Reno, surrendering Baxter's go-ahead double in the 10th. The win went to Portland reliever Edwin Moreno (2-1), who shut down the Aces over the game's final three innings.
Hester finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three driven in, extending his home hitting streak to a Pacific Coast League best 20 games. Trent Oeltjen led off the bottom of the first with his eighth home run, and Brandon Watson recorded a 3-for-4 night at the dish.
The series continues on Tuesday from Aces Ballpark. RHP Billy Buckner (4-2, 4.57 ERA) gets the nod for Reno, while the Beavers counter with RHP Brian Lawrence (4-1, 3.00 ERA). First pitch 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.
