The Aces defeated Sacramento handily 7-3 on Sunday to set up a winner-take-all season-ending game for a spot in the PCL playoffs. Reno will send Charles Brewer (8-10, 5.24) to the mound and probably couldn't pick a hotter pitcher right now. Brewer has allowed 2 or fewer runs in each of his last 4 starts with 29 strikeouts in 27 innings.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Joe Munoz, South Bend 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR (9), 4 RBI
2 Stars: Jamie Westbrook, South Bend 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 TPL, 4 RBI
1 Star: Ben Eckles, Hillsboro 3 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 ER
0 Stars: Andrew Velazquez, South Bend 0 for 5, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 Errors (34)
AAA: Reno 7 @ Sacramento 3. Mark Serrano got the start when Mike Bolsinger was put on the DL and he was shaky but kept it somewhat together. He was pulled in the 3rd inning with the bases loaded having allowed 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks. Bo Schultz took over and got out of the jam and went 4 more innings before allowing a solo home run in the 8th, though the game was in hand by then. Mike Jacobs got the Aces out front early with a solo home run in the 2nd and a 4-run outburst in the 3rd paved the way for the easy victory. Roger Kieschnick clubbed a 2-run homer in the 6th for a couple of insurance runs. Chris Owings went 2 for 4 and Andy Marte drove in 2.
AA: Mobile 0 @ Jacksonville 5. A.J. Schugel showed off some of his inconsistency giving up 4 runs in 5 innings on 6 hits and 4 walks. The offense came through with 3 singles and no walks.
A+: Visalia 4 @ Bakersfield 5. A 4-3 lead entering the 9th was undone by some shaky defense and pitching. Enrique Burgos surrendered a leadoff single then proceeded to throw a bunt attempt into right field tying the game at 4-4. A strikeout was followed by another strikeout but catcher Jose Queliz couldn't complete the throw to first. The game was lost when a ground ball was deflected by Burgos for an infield single. John Omahen was decent allowing 3 runs in 6+ innings. Kevin Medrano drove in 3 runs on a pair of singles while Socrates Brito went 2 for 4 and stole his 38th base.
A: South Bend 11 @ Lansing 6. The offense won the day as both Joe Munoz and Jamie Westbrook homered and drove in 4 runs. Brent Jones was the victim of some of poor defense as he couldn't get through 4 innings allowing 6 runs with only 2 of them earned. Jose Jose earned the win with 2 shutout innings of relief with 5 strikeouts. Marty Herum added 3 hits with a double and Justin Williams went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored.
A-: Hillsboro 7 Eugene 1. Ben Eckles was very sharp on his way back from injury with 3 shutout innings with 4 strikeouts. Scott Schultz followed and went 3 more innings allowing 1 run and getting the win. Zac Curtis pitched the 9th striking out the side giving him 42 strikeouts in 27 innings. Steve Nyisztor and Jordan Parr each drove in 2 runs.
R: Missoula 2 Billings 1. The Osprey trailed 1-0 heading into the 9th and loaded the bases with 2 outs when Tyler Humphreys was sent in to pinch hit. And he delivered with a line drive double to left that gave Missoula the walk-off victory. Yefrey Ramirez was very good allowing a solo home run in the 1st but nothing thereafter through 6 innings. Will Landsheft added 2 perfect innings of relief with 3 strikeouts and Anthony Bazzani got the win with a clean 9th. Taylor Ard went 4 for 4, all singles.