"Every time I hit the ball, I'm just looking for the extra base," Oeltjen said Thursday before Reno's 2-0 loss to Las Vegas at Cashman Field. "I've been lucky so far to get 12 and hopefully I can keep going."

Oeltjen, who has nearly as many triples as the entire 51s team (16), is leading the minor leagues in that category.

Aces manager Brett Butler knows more than most about hitting three-baggers. He led the National League in triples three times (1983, 1994, 1995) and the American League once (1986) during his 17-year major league career.

"Trent has the ability to hit balls gap to gap," Butler said. "But he also pulls the ball a lot right down the line. If you have a guy with speed, and he can pull the ball by the first baseman, most of the time it's a triple."

In his ninth pro season, the 26-year-old Oeltjen is on the most prolific tear of his career. After being stuck on one home run, he hit five in his last five games entering Thursday, along with three doubles and two triples.

Oeltjen hit two homers Tuesday, including a grand slam, in a 12-6 win over Tacoma in Reno and was 4-for-5 with a homer and three doubles Wednesday in the Aces' 12-6 loss at Las Vegas.

All Oeltjen did Thursday was spoil a bid for a perfect game by 51s left-hander Brad Mills by lining a single to left field to lead off the seventh.

"It's just one of those streaks you go on where everything sort of clicks," said Oeltjen, Reno's leadoff hitter most of this season. "It's been a lot of fun the last couple of days."

For the season Oeltjen is batting .300 with six homers, 22 doubles and 44 RBIs.

Originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2001 as an undrafted free agent, the speedster signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a minor league free agent before last season. He hit .317 for Triple-A Tucson, with six homers, 10 triples and 60 RBIs.

Oeltjen was the first minor league player signed by Arizona this past offseason.

"That's what our organization thinks about him," Butler said. "He's a manager's dream. If we had 25 guys like Trent Oeltjen, it would be a wonderful year.

"He's putting himself in a position, (where) if the bell rings, he'll be ready."

• NOTES -- The 51s activated outfielder Travis Snider (back) and placed catcher J.P. Arencibia (quadriceps) on the disabled list. ... Las Vegas third baseman Kevin Howard singled to extend his team-high hitting streak to 15 games.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.