Tahoe Onstage photo by Michael Smyth
Reno Aces fans have a second chance to watch Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray tonight when the minor league team opens a four-game series against the first place Salt Lake Bees.
Ray is on a rehab assignment with the Aces, recovering from a rib injury. He had six starts with the Dbacks before being placed on the disabled list. Ray was a member of the National League’s All-Star team last season, when he posted a 15-5 record with a 2.89 ERA. He had 28 starts.
In his first game with the Aces last week, Ray’s nine strikeouts tied the Aces’ season-high in a loss. He pitched 4.1 innings, surrendering one earned run on three hits with one walk. Ray’s three-pitch mix of fastball, slider and curveball was electric. He touched 94 mph with his fastball, and his slider complemented the southpaw’s heat with break at the knees.
“I thought he threw the ball really well out there today,” Aces’ skipper Greg Gross told Tahoe Onstage. “He looked free and easy. His last two innings were his best — he still had some life on the ball and that’s a good sign for him.”
The Aces (34-42) are hitting well, batting .276 in their last five games. But Reno’s pitchers have been lit up for 6.6 runs a game. Salt Lake (43-33) is batting .297 on the season with 111 home runs. The Los Angeles Angels affiliate is in first place in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division.
Tall right-hander Osmer Morales, 4-2 with a 5.62 ERA, gets his 13th start of the season tonight for Salt Lake.
The Aces and Bees play each other Monday through Thursday. Each game starts at 7:05 p.m. at Greater Nevada Field.
