Arizona Diamondbacks AAA affiliate Reno Aces win AAA Crown

DURHAM, NC - The Arizona Diamondbacks AAA affiliate the Reno Aces scored the game's first-eight runs and never trailed Tuesday night, knocking-off International League champion Pawtucket, 10-3, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in the 2012 Gildan Triple-A National Championship.

The victory caps the most successful season in Aces franchise history-a campaign that included a club-record 81 wins, the team's first Pacific Coast League title and, now, the first Triple-A crown in the club's four-year history. This marks the second Triple-A championship in Arizona Diamondbacks history-the first since the Tucson Sidewinders captured the title in 2006.

On Tuesday, Reno jumped out of the gates quickly and never looked back. Reno scored three in the first, three in the second and added two more in the third to take a commanding eight-run lead that was never seriously threatened.

Aces outfielder A.J. Pollock was named Most Valuable Player of the annual event. He finished with a double, triple, two runs scored and one driven in. Just days ago, Pollock earned MVP honors in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series.

Aces starter Trevor Bauer took a no decision Tuesday, allowing just two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over 4.2 frames. After his exit, Mike Demark worked 1.1 scoreless frames to collect the victory. Sam Demel allowed a run in the seventh, Jensen Lewis worked a scoreless eighth, and Jonathan Albaladejo ended the proceedings in the ninth.

Reno banged-out 13 hits on the night, including multi-hit efforts from Pollock, Tyler Kuhn, Josh Bell, Brent Clevlen, Tyler Bortnick and Keon Broxton.

The Aces will begin their title defense in April 2013.