Nate Orf launched a game-winning solo home run in the eighth inning to lead the Sky Sox to a 5-4 win and secure a doubleheader sweep of the Iowa Cubs in front of 5,093 at Security Service Field Sunday afternoon.
Nate Orf launched a game-winning solo home run in the eighth inning to lead the Sky Sox to a 5-4 win and secure a doubleheader sweep of the Iowa Cubs in front of 5,093 at Security Service Field Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Sox have walked off three times this season and have swept four of the five doubleheaders they've played in at home. Since splitting two games against Memphis April 21, the Sox have swept four straight doubleheaders in Colorado, including two against Iowa.
Colorado Springs (57-34) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run third inning. With two outs, Kyle Wren grounded an opposite-field single to left, scoring Nick Noonan for the first run of the game. One batter later, Mauricio Dubón launched a two-run shot over the left field wall for his second Triple-A home run of 2017.
After the Cubs (42-50) took the lead with four unanswered runs, Dubon tied the game with a two-out single to left field, scoring Tyler Bortnick in the bottom of the seventh inning. One inning later, Orf took the 2-2 offering from Jack Leathersich and gave the Sox the win on his fifth home run of 2017.
Andrew Barbosa (3-1, 5.56) earned the win by stranding the potential go-ahead run at third base in a scoreless eighth inning. The bullpen quartet of Tom Wilhelmsen, David Goforth, Matt Ramsey and Barbosa combined to allow one run on three hits in 3.1 innings in relief of starter Paolo Espino.
The Sky Sox hit the road for a quick four-game series with the Omaha Storm Chasers for the final time in 2017. RHP Bubba Derby (2-0, 2.49) makes his second career start against the Storm Chasers in Nebraska Monday night at 6:05 p.m. MT, when he faces off against Omaha RHP Jake Junis (2-4, 2.83).
