PCL· Season 2026
Reno Aces beat Salt Lake Bees 8-5 in PCL action on August 20, 2026, powered by a six-run fourth inning and solo homers from Cerda and Conticello.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The game was scoreless through three innings. Reno starter Ashton Izzi worked around seven hits over 3.2 innings but limited damage until the fourth.
That frame changed everything. Reno sent 10 batters to the plate, collecting six hits against Kerry (4-8). A.J. Vukovich doubled and scored, Pavin Smith drove in two with a double, and the inning was punctuated by Anderdson Rojas' RBI double and a run-scoring single from Kristian Robinson. By the time the dust cleared, Reno led 6-0 and Kerry was out of the game.
Salt Lake answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth. Nelson Rada crushed a two-run homer off Izzi — his third of the season — and Cade Marlowe added an RBI groundout. Ben Gobbel singled home another run, trimming the deficit to 6-4.
Reno restored order in the fifth. Gavin Conticello led off with a solo homer (his seventh), and Christian Cerda followed two batters later with another solo shot (his fifth). The Aces led 8-4.
The Bees got one back in the bottom half on a Logan Porter sac fly, making it 8-5. Then the bullpens took over.
The Turning Point
Reno's six-run fourth was the decisive moment. Kerry entered with a 4.2-inning line of 10 hits, eight earned runs, three walks and one strikeout — his ERA ballooning to 7.36 on the season. The Aces strung together three doubles in the inning alone, punishing the Bees' starter for a lack of command.
Key Performers
Christian Cerda (Reno) — 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R. The catcher's two-run homer in the fifth gave Reno breathing room after Salt Lake had clawed within two.
Yolmer Sánchez (Salt Lake) — 3-4, 2B, R. The veteran shortstop was the only Bee with a multi-hit night, singling three times and scoring once.
Manuel Pena (Reno) — 3-5, R. Pena anchored second base and reached base three times from the No. 5 spot.
Derek Law (W, 1-0) — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K. Law entered in the sixth and retired the side on eight pitches, earning the win.
Gerardo Carrillo (S, 5) — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K. Carrillo slammed the door in the ninth for his fifth save.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Reno out-hit Salt Lake 14-11, with both teams committing two errors. The 13 total runs were scored exclusively in the fourth and fifth innings — the rest of the game was a scoreless deadlock across seven frames. Reno's 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position was clinical enough; Salt Lake went 4-for-11 but stranded seven. The Aces stole three bases (Rojas 2, Robinson 1) to Salt Lake's none, adding pressure on Bees catcher Logan Porter.
Attendance was 4,756 on a 98-degree evening with the wind blowing out to right field at 3 mph.
What It Means
Reno (54-69) took the third game of this four-game set, evening or improving their series position. Salt Lake (56-66) has lost two of three and will try to salvage the finale on Friday 21 August. Neither team is in playoff contention in the PCL West.
Both sides return to The Ballpark at America First Square on Friday for the series finale at 6:35 p.m. MT.
Verdict
A five-inning slugfest settled by Reno's offensive explosion in the fourth and cushion homers in the fifth, followed by textbook bullpen work from Law, Kade Strowd, Bryce Jarvis and Carrillo — four scoreless innings to close.
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 27, Reno Aces won 23, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2024. Salt Lake Bees leads the head-to-head with 27 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 680 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 13.60 per match (345 for the home side, 335 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: 22 Aug 2026