Koshansky gets back on his cycle

The first time Joe Koshansky hit for the cycle this season, it was an early birthday present. The second time was a group celebration.

Led by Koshansky, Matt Miller and Mike McCoy, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox banged out 24 hits Tuesday night and cruised to a 21-5 thrashing of the Tucson Sidewinders at Security Service Field.

Koshansky became the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle twice in one season. Miller also went 4-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs and McCoy homered twice and drove in five runs. The trio helped Colorado Springs establish season highs in runs and hits.

"It was one of those games that are fun for one team and miserable for the other," Miller said. "It was contagious. Everyone took advantage of pitches over the plate. We really had our stuff together."

Koshansky tripled to right field in the third inning, reached on a bloop single in the fourth, hit a three-run homer to right in the seventh and doubled to center in the eighth. He scored five times, falling one short of tying the Pacific Coast League record.

"I wasn't thinking about getting a double in the last at-bat, I was just thinking about getting a hit," he said. "This was a good night for our club. We were able to square up on the ball and everyone had a good approach."

Koshansky also hit for the cycle against Tacoma on May 24, two days before his 26th birthday. The last Minor Leaguer to hit for the cycle twice in one season was Michael Hernandez, who did it for Class A West Michigan in 2006.

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Miller ripped an RBI double in the first, hit a run-scoring single in the third, smacked a three-run double in the fourth and drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. The 25-year-old left fielder had only three RBIs in 13 games since he was promoted from Double-A Tulsa at the end of July.

"I got a hit in my first at-bat and that loosens you up," Miller said. "That opened up the rest of the game. It allows you to have more patience.

"I got off-speed pitches in the zone and was able to put the barrel of the bat on the ball. Some nights it doesn't happen and some nights it does. And it always feels good to achieve a personal best."

McCoy, who was 3-for-6, had an inside-the-park homer in the opening, homered again in the fourth, lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh and ripped a two-run double in the eighth. He's hitting .384 in 22 games since joining the Rockies organization.

"This was a good game for us to win," Koshansky said. "We can enjoy it tonight, but we still have to come out and play again tomorrow."

Josh Hall (2-2) was one of the beneficiaries of the offensive outburst. He allowed one run on seven hits over seven innings, fanning four without issuing a walk, for the Sky Sox (61-62).

Sidewinders starter Matt Torra (3-4) was roughed up for nine runs -- eight earned -- on 12 hits, striking out four, over four innings.

Phil Avlas delivered a two-run double and Wilkin Castillo collected three hits for Tucson (54-68).