RENO, Nev.—Randy Ruiz homered twice and Josh Bell doubled three times, but Oklahoma City scored in six different innings and cruised to a 16-11 victory over the Reno Aces Thursday night at Aces Ballpark.
Reno took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the RedHawks tied the game in the second and took the lead for good in the third. Oklahoma City held a slim 6-5 advantage through six innings, but the RedHawks offense pushed across 10 runs in over the seventh and eighth frames to seal the series-opening victory. Reno rallied for four runs on six hits in the ninth, but the effort fell short.
Aces starter Barry Enright (4-2) took the loss, surrendering six runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings of work. Enright struck out six and didn't walk a batter. After Enright's exit, four Reno relievers combined to surrender 10 runs on 12 hits over the game's final 3.1 frames.
The win went to RedHawks starter Paul Clemens (4-3), who scattered five runs on six hits over 5.1 innings.
At the plate for Reno, Adam Eaton pushed his batting average to a Pacific Coast League best .403 with three hits, a run scored and one driven in. Ruiz notched his ninth homer of the season in the seventh inning and then hit No. 10 in the ninth inning. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young—playing for Reno on a Major League Rehabilitation Assignment—went hitless in two at-bats with an RBI.
The Aces and RedHawks hit the second leg of this four-game set on Friday night. Top-prospect RHP Trevor Bauer (0-0, No ERA) makes his Triple-A debut for Reno, while Oklahoma City will counter with RHP Aneury Rodriguez (1-3, 5.18 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. PT.
