Three-run walk-off homer lifts Reno past 51s in 11 innings

Didi Gregorius’ three-run homer in the 11th inning broke a 7-7 tie as the host Reno Aces defeated the 51s 10-7 on Friday night, snapping Las Vegas’ six-game winning streak and salvaging the final game of the four-game series.

Tyler Bortnick led off the inning with an infield single, went to second on Ender Inciarte’s bunt single and advanced to third when 51s relief pitcher Jeff Walters bobbled the ball. With runners at the corners and no one out, 51s manager Wally Backman brought in outfielder Anthony Seratelli as a fifth infielder, but Gregorius turned on a Walters fastball and launched it over the wall for his third homer of the season, ending the 4-hour, 39-minute marathon.

Reno had the bases loaded in the 10th with no outs, but Las Vegas reliever Vic Black, working his third straight inning, retired the next three batters to keep the game tied. The Aces left 16 men on base.

The 51s rallied from a 7-6 deficit in the eighth inning, as Eric Campbell’s single scored Daniel Muno to tie the game 7-7. Las Vegas had the bases loaded with no outs, but the 51s couldn’t pull ahead, as Bobby Abreu hit into a double play and Cesar Puello struck out.

The 51s bullpen couldn’t hold a 6-4 lead, as the Aces scored one run in the sixth and two in the seventh before Las Vegas rallied to tie the score in the eighth.

The 51s, who went 6-2 on the trip, return to Cashman Field to host El Paso at 7:05 p.m. today to begin a 12-game homestand, their longest of the season. Right-hander Noah Syndergaard (2-1, 3.94) will start for Las Vegas.