Aces still can't find bats, lose 7-2

RENO " A change of scenery didn't do anything to help the Reno Aces snap out of their hitting slump.

The Aces (15-25) hit .202 on their recent eight-game road trip, and they opened an eight-game homestand with eight hits in a 7-2 loss to the New Orleans Zephyrs on Thursday night before 7,088 at Aces Ballpark.

"We have to take a better approach as a whole," said catcher John Hester, who brought a .312 batting average into the game. "As a whole, we're chasing pitches out of the zone. You go through stuff like this during the season."

Part of the Aces' recent skid at the plate can be attributed to the absence of first baseman Josh Whitesell, who spent nine games with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being sent back down Tuesday, and designated hitter Agustin Murillo, who was suspended 50 games for a failed drug test.

"As a team, you can't think about that," Hester said. "You can't let the absence of one or two guys affect you over the course of 10 games."

Aces manager Brett Butler said the lack of offense is something that teams go through. The Aces are averaging 6.7 hits per game over the last nine games, but are averaging 1.7 runs in that stretch.

"We're going through a cycle," Butler said. "We hit the ball right at people tonight. We had a couple of opportunities to score, but didn't get it done. We had runners at first and third and Trent (Oeltjen) lined to third with our pitcher at first."

Butler said he was more concerned with his team's ability to pick up the ball. Reno made 15 errors on the road trip, but played a clean game Thursday.

After the fifth, the only serious threat was in the seventh when the Aces put runners at first and second with two outs but Levale Speigner retired pinch-hitter Brandon Watson to end the threat.

Aces starter Tony Barnette, who allowed only two hits through four innings, gave up three runs in the fifth.

Walks to Matt Craig and John Purdom plus a single by Andy Gonzalez loaded the bases with no outs. Zephyr pitcher Willie Collazo followed with a groundball to first base. Josh Whitesell charged the ball, but it deflected off his glove to second baseman Rusty Ryal who got the out at first, but a run scored. John Raynor followed with a double to score two more runs and make it 4-2.

Barnette gave up two more in the sixth when Purdom laced a two-out double.