Las Vegas, Nev. – The Reno Aces (0-1) dropped their season opener in a nail bitter against the Las Vegas Aviators (1-0), the Triple-A Affiliate of the Athletics, in a close 3-2 defeat on Friday night at Las Vegas Ballpark.
Despite the loss, Trey Mancini collected his first home run in his Aces debut, launching a 4-seam fastball from Elvis Alvarado into the right-centerfield bleachers with two outs in the top of the ninth to put the second run on the board for his team. Mancini, a 2022 World Series champion, is set to be a crucial part of Reno’s success in 2025.
Yilber Diaz was productive in a short outing. The exciting prospect struck out six in just 4 2/3 frames, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk. Diaz looks to build upon a breakthrough 2024 season after posting a 3.80 ERA with 140 punchouts across a career-high 104 1/3 innings between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno.
Jorge Barrosa was responsible for Reno’s first run of the season, torching an RBI double into the left-centerfield gap to drive in A.J. Vukovich in the top of the sixth. The shifty switch-hitter is fresh off a solid season in ’24, slashing .270/.360/.421 with eight home runs and 12 stolen bases in 285 at-bats.
Reno will look to bounce back in Saturday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aviators, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PST.
