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Tristin English came through in a big way for the Reno Aces tonight, slugging a two-out, two-RBI double to break a tie and take the lead in the 7th.
The hit ultimately gave Reno their first win of the season over the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Athletics, in a 9-4 win in Sunday’s series finale at Las Vegas Ballpark.
The BLC-Nine held a two-run lead before the Aviators got ahold of Kyle Backhus and Jeff Brigham in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on round-trippers by Drew Avans and CJ Alexander. However, Reno quickly rebounded the following inning, plating three runs, highlighted by English’s clutch double.
Trey Mancini and Tim Tawa provided much-needed insurance in the later frames. Mancini scored Kevin Graham on a single up the middle to collect his second RBI of the series. Tawa then broke the game wide open with a towering three-run blast into the left-centerfield bleachers. The 25-year-old is red-hot to start the 2025 campaign, going 4-for-11 with two home runs and six RBI in three games.
Ildemaro Vargas went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the win. The Ace’s all-time hits leader is one score away from tying the franchise record in runs.
Cristian Mena was efficient in his season debut, blanking the Aviators in 4 2/3 innings with four punchouts and two walks. The young right-hander has much to prove in 2025 after posting a 4.61 ERA with 102 punchouts in 95 2/3 innings in 2024 before a right forearm strain ended his season early.
The Reno Aces will take this momentum into their 2025 home opener on Tuesday, April 1, against the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
The Reno Aces contributed to this report.
