Sky Sox fly past Zephyrs, 6-4

Jorge Ortega scattered eight hits in six innings to win his Triple-A debut as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox defeated the New Orleans Zephyrs, 6-4 on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old right-hander, recently promoted from Single-A Brevard County, gave up three consecutive singles with one out in the second inning, capped by Austin Nola's run-scoring hit that gave the Zephyrs a 1-0 lead.

But Ortega settled in to hold New Orleans scoreless with three strikeouts the rest of the way, and the Sky Sox pushed across runs in the fourth and fifth innings to put him in line for the victory.

Michael Reed's RBI single scored Matt Clark with the tying run in the fourth, and Colorado Springs jumped in front an inning later as Kyle Wren scored on a single by Pete Orr.

Both runs were charged to Blake Logan (1-4), who took the loss after allowing two runs and six hits in five innings.

The Sky Sox sent eight batters to the plate in the eighth to score four insurance runs against Craig Stem. Wren knocked in a pair on a double to complete the rally.

New Orleans did not go quietly in the ninth, scoring three times to draw within 6-4. Austin Wates greeted reliever Jaye Chapman with a leadoff double and scored on a triple by Nola. Both Wates and Nola finished with three hits each.

Nola scored on a ground out by pinch hitter Kila Ka'aihue, and Isaac Galloway followed with his seventh home run of the year and second in as many nights, but Chapman recovered to record the final two outs of the game.

The Zephyrs were handed their 85th loss of the season, equaling the single-season franchise record established in 1999.

New Orleans and Colorado Springs play the penultimate game of the season on Sunday at 2:35 p.m. Central.