Drabek struggles again as Ransom, Aces bombard 51s

Cody Ransom finished a single shy of the cycle and drove in six runs Friday to lead the host Reno Aces to a 16-7 blitz of the 51s in a Pacific Coast League game.

Ransom, who also drew a walk and hit a sacrifice fly in five plate appearances, was denied a final shot at the cycle when he was removed on defense in the eighth.

The Aces again showed no mercy against 51s right-hander Kyle Drabek (0-1). After scoring five runs in four innings against him in his Triple-A debut Sunday, Reno (45-31) got to him for five runs on four hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. Drabek was lifted after throwing only 22 of his 46 pitches for strikes.

Ransom and Andy Tracy hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, and the 51s (41-35) trailed 9-0 after two.

Sean Burroughs had a homer and four RBIs, and Cole Gillespie and Tony Abreu had three hits apiece for the Aces, who held a 19-14 edge in hits.

Kevin Howard had a three-run homer and a double among his three hits for the 51s, who for the second straight night were silenced by Reno's bullpen. Las Vegas scored seven runs in the first four-plus innings off starter Matt Torra, but three Aces relievers combined to throw five shutout innings.