Burgos Baffles Omaha Bats in 3-1 Win

Behind a strong start from one of their veterans, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 3-1 at Werner Park on Tuesday night.

Sky Sox starter Hiram Burgos (6-9, 4.97) pitched six brilliant innings, allowing just one run on five hits while walking three and striking out six to earn his sixth win of the season.  

Both teams got off to a nearly identical start. With one out in the first, Nate Orf doubled off Omaha starter Christian Binford (2-10, 5.59). The next batter, Lewis Brinson, lined into an unassisted double play to second baseman Ramon Torres, who doubled Orf off second to end the inning.

In the bottom half, Reymond Fuentes doubled with one out against Burgos. But the next batter, Jorge Bonifacio hit a line drive right back to Burgos, who made the catch and threw to Orf at second to double off Fuentes to end the inning.

In the third, the Sky Sox loaded the bases with three walks and Kyle Wren coming to the plate. Wren grounded into a double play off Binford, but Michael Reed came home to score the game's first run.

Omaha answered with a run in the bottom half off Burgos as Whit Merrifield hit a two-out double to score Parker Morin and even the score at one after three.

The Sky Sox were quick to respond in the fourth as Josmil Pinto crushed a two-out solo home run, his eighth of the season, to give the Sky Sox a 2-1 lead. The Sky Sox extended the lead in the fifth as Reed reached on an error, then a bunt from Eric Young Jr. was misplayed for another error, allowing Reed to score and give the Sky Sox a 3-1 lead after five.

In the bottom of the fifth, Burgos worked around a Fuentes single to pitch another scoreless inning. He did the same in the sixth by retiring the side in order, including a strikeout of Orlando Calixte to end the inning with the Sky Sox still up a pair. The Sky Sox turned to the bullpen in the seventh, ending Burgos' night.

Tyler Cravy entered for Colorado Springs in the seventh and worked around a pair of runners to pitch a scoreless inning to keep the Sky Sox up a pair after seven. In the eighth, Cravy struck out the side in order in a dominant frame to send the game to the ninth.

Closer Damien Magnifico entered for the Sky Sox in the ninth and struck out two in a scoreless inning to finish the win and earn his 16th save of the season.

Offensively, Brinson recorded a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to eight games since joining the Sky Sox last week.

In the series finale on Wednesday night, Wei-Chung Wang (NR) will get the start in his first appearance for the Sky Sox this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. MDT at Werner Park.