Seven shutout frames for Joe Martinez and back-to-back home runs in the third inning Friday night lifted the Reno Aces to a 3-0 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series at Werner Park.
With a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, Reno now is one win away from winning the first PCL title in franchise history. Game 4 is slated for Saturday night at Werner Park in Omaha.
On Friday night, Martinez scattered just five hits in a 103-pitch effort, walking just two and striking out seven. He turned over a three-run lead to the bullpen, and the Aces relief corps took care of the rest.
The Aces offense managed just four hits on the night, but it made the most of them. In the third, A.J. Pollock came to the plate with a man on first and one out in the inning. He promptly deposited a Nate Adcock offering over the wall in left to give Reno an early lead.
The next batter, Tyler Kuhn, hit a solo homer on the first pitch he saw to give the Aces a little more cushion. That was the last hit Reno would get, but it proved to be the last one they needed.
After Martinez's exit, Sam Demel and Joe Paterson combined to strand two base runners and strikeout the side in the eighth. Jonathan Albaladejo came on in the ninth and slammed the door, putting Reno in position for a championship on Saturday night.
Martinez (1-0) earned the win, while Adcock (1-1) was pinned with the loss. Albaladejo collected his second save of the postseason.
At the dish for Reno, Pollock led the way with his two-run homer in the third and a lead-off double in the first. Pollock has set the Arizona Diamondbacks Triple-A record for postseason hits with 12.
Game 4 is set for Saturday night at Werner Park in Omaha.
Reno Aces Press Release
9/14/2012
