RENO – Everything was new on Saturday night – except for the result.

The Tacoma Rainiers made their first trip to Reno, and played their first game at brand-new Aces Ballpark in front of a near sellout crowd of 8,510.

Yet the Rainiers had the same old ending: another loss to the Aces, this time by a score of 6-5.

Reno has been the Rainiers’ biggest problem this season. The Aces won six of the eight games the teams played in Tacoma, including a four-game sweep that was the Rainiers’ first suffered at home since 2006.

Now, the Aces have won the first of eight games the teams will play in Reno this season.

Tacoma (36-39) actually got off to a great start, rallying for four runs after there were two outs in the top of the first inning. Chris Shelton singled in a run, and he was doubled home by Bryan LaHair, before Mike Morse launched a monstrous home run over the scoreboard in left field.

But Reno got one run back in the first, and then rallied for five runs in the second inning against Tacoma starter Andy Baldwin.

Trent Oeltjen was Baldwin’s biggest problem, going 3-for-4 with a triple and a three-run homer that capped the five-run inning.

Baldwin (5-5) settled down after the second and lasted 72/3 innings without allowing any more runs.

Jeff Clement homered in the third – his 10th of the year – to make it 6-5.

But former Rainiers and Mariners lefty Travis Blackley (2-3) entered the game in the fifth inning and shut down the Tacoma offense for 32/3 innings, allowing just one hit.

Adam Moore hit a two-out double in the ninth inning off Reno closer Bobby Korecky, but pinch hitter Prentice Redman lined out to Oeltjen in left field for the game’s final out.

In many ways, the Rainiers should be happy to be playing in Reno – as the visiting team. Back in 2004 and 2005, it was widely rumored that the Tacoma franchise would move to Reno, but then-owner George Foster kept his word to the fans and sold the team to a group (the Schlegel family) that had no intention of moving the club.

Instead, it was Tucson that ended up moving to the Biggest Little City in the World after the completion of the 2008 season.

Rowland-Smith suspended

Tacoma starting pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith has been suspended five games by the Pacific Coast League for hitting Las Vegas shortstop Angel Sanchez in the head with a pitch on Tuesday night.

Manager Daren Brown was not surprised to learn of the suspension.

“I don’t think the intent was there, but (the suspension) kind of sets a precedent,” said Brown.

Rowland-Smith began serving his suspension Saturday, and Brown expects him to start on Thursday at home against Portland.

On tap

The second game of this four-game series will be played today at 5:05 p.m. PDT. Tacoma’s Eric Hull (6-3, 4.85 ERA) will start in place of Rowland-Smith. Reno’s starting pitcher will be Tony Barnette (6-6, 5.83).

Mike Curto is the Tacoma Rainiers’ radio broadcaster.