Seven different Sky Sox drove in at least one run as Colorado Springs defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers, 14-3, in front of 2,204 Monday night at Security Service Field.
Seven different Sky Sox drove in at least one run as Colorado Springs defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers, 14-3, in front of 2,204 Monday night at Security Service Field.
Omaha took a 2-0 lead after half an inning, but the Sky Sox (44-30) scored four unanswered runs and put the game out of reach with a five-run fifth inning to take their fourth win over the Storm Chasers in five meetings this season.
Brett Phillips opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, lining a RBI single off second baseman Ruben Sosa to score Lewis Brinson for the opening run. Andrew Susac clubbed a solo shot one inning later for his fourth long ball of 2017 to tie the score at two. The Sox catcher had a two-hit night, snapping a 1-for-20 skid in his last 10 games.
Nate Orf gave the Sox their first lead of the game in the third inning, launching a two-run home run to left field for his first home run of the season and seventh of his professional career. Orf also broke out of an offensive slump, using a two-hit night to break a 1-for-12 skid during the four-game set in New Orleans.
After the Storm Chasers (37-37) scored a run to halve the deficit to a single run, Colorado Springs broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning. Orf lined a double to score Ivan De Jesus for the second time in as many at-bats, and Mauricio Dubón lined a single up the middle for his first Triple-A RBI in his Sky Sox debut. Brinson put an exclamation point on the inning, crushing a three-run shot to left field in his first game back since his tenure in Milwaukee.
De Jesus joined the RBI party in the sixth inning, grounding a two-run double down the left field line to score Garrett Cooper and Phillips. The third baseman drove in another run in the seventh inning to cap his 5-for-5 evening-the second time in 2017 that a Sky Sox batter has recorded a five-hit game.
Cooper completed the offensive attack with the fourth home run of the night, driving in runs No. 63 and 64 with a two-run home run down the right field line, scoring Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the process. The 14 runs marked the first time the Sox have scored in double-figures since the second game of the June 10 doubleheader against Iowa and the 19 hits are the most since back-to-back 21-hit games May 5 and 6 against Oklahoma City and Fresno.
Andrew Barbosa rebounded from his last start in Memphis, allowing two earned runs and striking out two batters in four innings. Wei-Chung Wang (5-0, 2.25) earned the win with two relief innings, while Tyler Cravy and Tim Dillard finished the night with three combined scoreless innings.
Colorado Springs and Omaha square off in a scheduled doubleheader Tuesday night at Security Service Field. RHP Angel Ventura (2-1, 3.00) is scheduled to pitch game one at 4 p.m. MT, with the twinbill nightcap 30 minutes after the end of the first game. The doubleheader is also a $2 Tuesday, with all tickets, parking and Coors products costing $2.
