RENO, Nev."Tony Barnette dealt 6.1 scoreless innings and the Reno bullpen followed suit, as the Aces won a 4-0 decision over the Sacramento River Cats Tuesday night at Raley Field.
Barnette (2-2) was outstanding for the second-straight start, scattering just three hits in an 89-pitch effort. He walked one and punched out four.
Barnette left the game with one out in the seventh inning and a 3-0 lead, and the Aces bullpen would take care of the rest. Doug Slaten finished off the seventh, Hector Ambriz made his Triple-A debut with a scoreless eighth and Bobby Korecky slammed the door in the ninth to secure the shutout victory"the first in franchise history.
The loss fell to Sacramento starter Edgar Gonzalez (2-2), who surrendered three runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. Gonzalez walked two and struck out six.
Reno banged out 12 hits on the night, benefiting from four batters with a multi-hit effort. Though he had just one hit on the night, Reno's Ruben Gotay provided the crushing blow with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning that broke a 0-0 tie and lifted the Aces to the victory.
The series rolls on with a Wednesday morning affair from Raley Field. The Aces will trot-out RHP Seth Etherton (2-1, 3.41 ERA), while Sacramento is set to counter with RHP Vince Mazzaro (0-1, 3.38). First pitch is set for 11:35 a.m. PT. The action can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM.
The Aces return home on Friday, May 8 for a four-game series with the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. For tickets, stop by the Aces Ballpark Box Office, call (775) 334-7000 or visit www.RenoAces.com.
