Baseball: Gotay lifts Aces to big win

RENO, Nev.- Ruben Gotay connected on four hits, including a seventh-inning home run, to push the Reno Aces to an 11-5 victory over the Portland Beavers Tuesday night at Aces Ballpark.

Gotay reached base five times, adding a pair of doubles, a single and a base on balls to his fifth home run of the season. Rusty Ryal smashed his team-leading 16th homer on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, and Brandon Allen continued his torrid streak with the Aces with a homer of his own in the eighth.

Outside of the power display put on by Reno, the Aces received a stellar starting pitching performance by Billy Buckner (5-2), who won his fourth-straight decision. The right-hander worked 6.2 innings, scattering two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts. Scott Dohmann recorded the final five outs of the ballgame in his Aces debut to pick-up the save.

The loss fell to Portland starter Brian Lawrence (4-2), who surrendered seven runs on 10 hits through six frames. Lawrence struggled with his control, issuing six walks in the outing.

The series continues on Wednesday from Aces Ballpark. RHP Tony Barnette (6-7, 6.73 ERA) gets the nod for Reno. He'll face-off with Portland's LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-7, 3.38 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PT.

For tickets, stop by the Aces Ballpark Box Office, call (775) 334-7000 or visit www.RenoAces.com.