RENO, Nev.-Randy Ruiz hit a two-out, go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning Friday night, lifting the Reno Aces to a come-from-behind 11-9 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers in the series opener at Aces Ballpark.
Reno led 5-0 early, but relinquished the lead and fell behind 9-6 in the eighth. In the home half of the frame, though, Jake Elmore brought the Aces to within two on a sacrifice fly, and two batters later Ruiz unloaded the bases with his second grand slam of the season, pushing the Aces to an 11-9 lead. Jonathan Albaladejo slammed the door in the ninth, and the Aces escaped with the series-opening victory.
Victor Capellan (1-0) earned his first-career Triple-A victory after recording the final two outs of the seventh inning. Starter Zach Kroenke did not figure into the decision, allowing eight runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings of work.
The loss fell to Rainiers reliever Oliver Perez (2-1), who surrendered Ruiz's blast in the eighth. Tacoma starter Forrest Snow surrendered five runs on five hits with five strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work.
