Reno Aces mascot Archie’s 10th birthday party was spoiled Sunday when Las Vegas beat the stuffing out of his team.
The flying objects over the Biggest Little City were identified as baseballs launched by the 51’s, who sent the Aces out of town with a 15-6 defeat and their first series loss since July 3. The Aces are en route to New Orleans and won’t be back until Aug. 1.
For Las Vegas, Phillip Evans, Colton Plaia, Peter Alonso and former Ace Zach Borenstein hit home runs, one of which cleared the towering left-field wall and landed on the railroad tracks.
Despite the loss to their in-state Triple-A rivals, the Aces (49-50) have reason for optimism. They have a 6-3 record since the all-star break, shortstop Ildemaro Vargas is riding a 22-game hitting streak, 2017 Pacific Coast League MVP Christian Walker hit his 15th home run and infielder/outfielder/Swiss Army knife Kristopher Negron pitched a scoreless inning in the ninth inning.
Monday is a travel day for the Aces, who will play a three-game series in New Orleans and a four-game set in Round Rock, Texas, before coming home for a seven-game home stand against Colorado Springs and Oklahoma City.
— Tim Parsons