Big Second Carries Aces in 17-11 Win

Published on August 19, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox scored early and often but would not be able to match Reno's offensive firepower in Tuesday night's 17-11 loss to the Aces before a crowd of 4,847 at Security Service Field.

Colorado Springs would score the contest's first runs thanks to a two-run blast off the bat of Domingo Santana. The one-out round-tripper was Santana's 18th of the season and second since joining the Sky Sox following the July 31st MLB non-waiver trade deadline. The Sox early 2-0 lead did not last long as the Aces offense turned it on in the following frame.

Josh Roenicke (6-10, 6.20) worked a scoreless first before being tagged for eight runs in the second. The right-hander recorded just two outs in the frame before the Sox turned to right-hander Austin Ross to get the final out. Roenicke gave up seven total hits and walked three without recording a strikeout in the abbreviated outing. The big blows would come on Brandon Drury's lead off home run, a bases-clearing double by first baseman Nick Evans and a Peter O'Brien three-run blast. Evans and O'Brien combined for six RBI's in the frame to help Reno take an 8-2 lead after an inning and a half of play.

The Sox responded to Reno's monster inning with another pair of runs in the home second to cut the early deficit to 8-4 after just two innings of play. The Sky Sox benefitted from a fielding error by third baseman Jamie Romak in the frame, putting runners on first and second with no out against Aces starter Caleb Clay before Ross moved the runners up 90 feet with a sac bunt. Kyle Wren followed Ross with an RBI groundout before Luis Sardinas cashed in with a two-out RBI single.

Danny Dorn and O'Brien each drove in a run against Ross in the top of the third to extend Reno's lead to 10-4 before the Sox offense answered with yet another pair of run in the home half of the inning. Nevin Ashley singled home Michael Reed and advanced to third on O'Brien's second fielding error of the inning before Pete Orr capitalized with an RBI sac fly. The Sox third straight two-run frame cut the home team's deficit to 10-6 after three explosive innings.

Unfortunately for Ross and the Sox, Reno's lineup would not show signs of slowing down in the fourth, plating two more runs on three hits (two extra-base knocks) against the right-hander. Jordan Pacheco's one-out triple set up Mike Freeman and Dorn to extend the Aces lead. Freeman came through with a two-out RBI single before Dorn capped the frame with a run-scoring double. The now 12-6 lead would last for just one more out as Colorado Springs had a few more runs in them yet.

The Sox put a three spot up in the fourth, chasing Clay before the Reno righty could record an out in the frame. Kyle Wren's leadoff double set Luis Sardinas up for his RBI single in the following at-bat before Santana drew a walk against newly-implanted Aces reliever RJ Hively. Matt Clark added an RBI sac fly to plate Sardinas before Ashley capped the frame with a two-out RBI single. The three-run fourth pulled Colorado Springs within three, now trailing 12-9 halfway through.

The sides held one another scoreless over the fifth and sixth innings as Reno right-hander Seth Simmons (3-2, 3.45) and Sky Sox southpaw each made impressive scoreless appearances in a night that clearly favored the hitter.

Brandon Kintzler would be tagged for three runs in the seventh on four singles with RBI's coming from Pacheco and Dorn. Dorn added a two-out, two-run shot against Jaye Chapman in the Aces ninth to cap Reno's offensive outburst at 17 runs on the night. Dorn would end up going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and five RBI's in the contest to lead the way for Reno.

Kevin Vance tossed two scoreless innings of relief before turning the ball over to right-hander Kevin Vance in the ninth with the Aces leading 17-9. Colorado Springs would collect three hits and a walk in the frame against the Reno reliever, scoring twice on a Nevin Ashley RBI double and Pete Orr RBI single before an out was recorded. Vaance settled down however, getting Matt Dominguez to lineout before inducing a game-ending double play off the bat of Robinzon Diaz to secure Reno's big 17-11 win. The Aces improve to 60-63 after taking three of four from the Sky Sox who fall to 51-72 on the season.

The Sky Sox will look to erase this current three-game skid with a win in their series-opener with the Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday evening. Left-hander Brent Suter (1-0, 2.38) will make his home field debut to begin the four-game set against right-hander Adrian Sampson (1-2, 4.95) with first pitch set for 6:35 PM MDT from Security Service Field.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 19, 2015


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