PCL· Season 2026
Salt Lake Bees routed Reno Aces 17-4 as Christian Moore fell a triple shy of the cycle and Ben Gobbel drove in five runs in the PCL series opener.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Salt Lake struck first in the bottom of the first. Moore led off with a triple — his sixth of the season — off Aces starter Tommy Henry and scored on a Kyren Paris groundout.
The Bees blew the game open in the second. Raudi Rodriguez singled, Bryce Teodosio walked, and Gobbel launched a three-run homer to left-centre, his seventh of the season, making it 4-0.
Reno answered in the third. Sam Aldegheri walked three and allowed a wild pitch that scored A.J. Vukovich before Tyler Locklear punched a two-run single through the left side after a deflection by shortstop Kyren Paris, cutting the lead to 4-3. Sammy Peralta entered and stranded two runners to escape further damage.
Salt Lake added a run in the fourth on a Reyes sacrifice fly, then broke it open in the fifth. Gobbel doubled home two, and Reyes singled home two more with two outs, extending the lead to 9-3.
Reno got one back in the sixth on a Jeimer Candelario fielding error that scored Pavin Smith, but Moore answered with a leadoff solo homer in the seventh off Spencer Giesting — his 11th of the season.
The Bees put the game beyond doubt with a seven-run eighth, fuelled by a Paris three-run double and a Reyes two-run double.
The Turning Point
Gobbel's three-run homer in the second inning gave Salt Lake the lead for good and put Reno on the back foot. The Aces pulled within one in the third, but the Bees' bullpen shut them down the rest of the way. Salt Lake relievers combined for 6.1 innings of one-run ball — the only run unearned — striking out seven.
Key Performers
Christian Moore (Salt Lake Bees) — 3-for-5, triple, double, home run, 2 RBI, 4 runs, walk. Moore reached base four times, scored four runs and was a triple shy of the cycle. His leadoff homer in the seventh snuffed any hint of a Reno comeback.
Ben Gobbel (Salt Lake Bees) — 2-for-5, double, home run, 5 RBI, 3 runs. The first baseman delivered the game's decisive blow with a three-run homer in the second and added a two-run double in the fifth.
Pablo Reyes (Salt Lake Bees) — 3-for-3, double, 5 RBI, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases. Reyes reached in all five plate appearances, drove in five and swiped two bases.
Tyler Locklear (Reno Aces) — 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 walks. Locklear was the only Reno hitter to drive in runs, plating two with a third-inning single.
By the Numbers
Salt Lake's 17 runs and 17 hits both represented season highs. The Bees went 8-for-22 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base — a reflection of how many opportunities they created. Reno managed only six hits and went 1-for-14 with RISP. The Bees bullpen — Peralta, Trevor Martin, Alex Faedo, Brooks Kaminsky and Jared Southard — combined for 6.1 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits while striking out seven. The Aces used seven pitchers who surrendered 16 earned runs across eight innings.
What It Means
Salt Lake moved to 54-65 on the season with the win, while Reno dropped to 53-67. The six-game series continues at The Ballpark at America First Square. The Bees look to build momentum after the lopsided opener; the Aces will need to reset their pitching staff after burning through the bullpen.
Verdict
A complete performance from Salt Lake, who hit early, hit often and got quality relief work after Aldegheri's short outing. The 17-4 scoreline accurately reflected the gap between the two sides on the night — the Bees were sharper in every phase.
Rivalry since 2024
Salt Lake Bees vs Reno Aces Head to Head Results· 50
Salt Lake Bees and Reno Aces have met 50 times — Salt Lake Bees won 26, Reno Aces won 24, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2024. Salt Lake Bees leads the head-to-head with 26 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 672 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 13.44 per match (333 for the home side, 339 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 50 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 50 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 18–15 in 2025.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 20 Aug 2026