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Express Take Game Five, Sky Sox Take Series

July 3, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


ROUND ROCK, Tex. - After taking the first three games of this five-game series, the Sky Sox dropped the final two, still taking the series over Round Rock 3-2 after losing 8-4 on Tuesday night.

The home team got the offense rolling early on Tuesday night, scoring a trio of runs in the first inning. Drew Robinson led off with a walk for the Express, but was caught stealing second. Cliff Pennington then went down on strikes for two quick outs. However, Scott Heineman then lined a single and Willie Calhoun reached when hit by pitch to put two on. Round Rock then executed a double steal, with a Sky Sox throwing error allowing Heineman to come home for the first run of the evening. Andy Ibanez then singled to move Calhoun up to third, followed by a Hunter Cole single to plate Calhoun. Nick Noonan then hit Round Rock's third consecutive single to score Ibanez and give the Express a three-run lead.

After two scoreless frames, Round Rock went back to work. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tony Sanchez led off with a double on the first pitch he saw. A ground out let him move up to third, and a sacrifice fly from Robinson for the second out of the inning scored Sanchez to make it 4-0. In the next at-bat Pennington reached after being hit by pitch, and a Heineman single put runners on the corners for Calhoun, who hit his seventh bomb of the season to make it a 7-0 ballgame.

In the top of the fifth, the Sky Sox fought back. Jett Bandy led off with a homer to get Colorado Springs on the board, with Brett Phillips drawing a walk two outs later. Tyler Saladino then singled for the second hit of the inning to put two on, before Tyrone Taylor cleared the bases with a three-run homer to make it a 7-4 affair.

In the bottom half of the inning, with one out on the board, Noonan answered with a solo homer of his own to put the Express up 8-4.

Though the first five innings were boisterous, the final four innings went quietly, with no more runs being scored by either squad. In the top of the ninth inning the Sky Sox attempted a rally, as Bandy led off with a single, advancing to second on a Round Rock error. However, the next three batters were all retired to quash the rally and end the game without further ado. The Express held onto an 8-4 victory to take their second game in a row from Colorado Springs, with the Sky Sox still managing to take the series three games to two.

The Sky Sox are returning home tomorrow on Independence Day to host the New Orleans Baby Cakes for five games, before going on the three-day All-Star Break, and then hitting the road for five more games against the Baby cakes in New Orleans after the break. For all information on Sky Sox, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the team's website at www.skysox.com.

NOTES

Tomorrow's Preview: In the first game of Colorado Springs' homestand and a five-game set versus the New Orleans Baby Cakes, the Sky Sox are sending righty Aaron Brooks to the mound to square off against New Orleans' fellow righty Zac Gallen. Both pitchers are looking for their fifth win of the 2018 campaign.

Independence Lookbacks: With fireworks nights customary on both July 3rd and July 4th, it has been customary that teams at home on the third play on the road on the 4th, and vice versa. With the loss on Tuesday night, the Sky Sox are now 16-14 on July 3rd (6-2 at home, 10-12 on the road). Tuesday night marked the first encounter with Round Rock on July 3rd or 4th, and as it marked the final scheduled game at the Dell Diamond, here's a look back at the Sky Sox first visit to the Dell Diamond, on July 26th, 2005: Pascual Matos went 3-for-5, with 3 RBI, while Eddy Garabito went 3-for-5, with 1 RBI as the Sky Sox beat the Express, 8-2, in front of 8,406. Aquilino López pitched the win in relief for the Sky Sox, while Fernando Nieve took the loss for Round Rock.

Orf's Debut: On Monday, the Brewers announced that they selected the contract of the 28-year-old. He was recalled in place for infielder Nick Franklin who was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Orf, a native of Wentzville, MO, was originally signed by Milwaukee as a non-drafted free agent on June 14, 2013 out of Baylor University. As the starting second baseman last night with the Brewers against the Minnesota Twins at Miller Park, Orf did not tally his first MLB hit as he went 0-for-4, but started off on the bases like the grinder he is - by getting hit by a pitch to lead off the 10th inning in which the Brewers walked off on a bases-loaded walk.

Quintin Two-rentino: Sunday marked the first time that the Sky Sox had two Quintin's on the same roster at the same time (Quintin Berry and Quintin Torres-Costa). The only other "Quintin" to play for the Sky Sox was Quinton McCracken, who played for the Sky Sox in 1995.

Doubling Up: The back-to-back homers by Jacob Nottingham and Christian Bethancourt in the fourth inning Sunday night marked only the second time that the Sky Sox have hit back-to-back homers against Round Rock pitching. The only other instance came nearly three years ago, on July 7th, 2014 at the Dell Diamond, when Carlos Gonzalez and Ben Paulsen hit back-to-back homers in the 5th inning against Round Rock pitcher Justin Germano. Sky Sox won that game, 6-4.

Bombs on Bombs on Bombs on...: The five home runs Sunday night in Round Rock by the Sky Sox marks the ninth time in franchise history (and the first time at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock) for the Sky Sox to belt five home runs in a road game. The last instance, nearly one year ago in Omaha, July 2nd, 2017 when the Sky Sox belted six homers at Werner Park in Omaha, en route to an 11-0 win over the Storm Chasers. (The six homers: Two by Nate Orf, and one each by Andrew Susac, Jett Bandy, Lewis Brinson, and Brett Phillips.) The five home runs tonight also marks the second time the Sky Sox have had a five homer game against the Express. The other instance happened in Colorado Springs, on August 5th, 2006 (Sky Sox won 12-11). Carlos Rivera and Sean Barker both had two homers, and J.D. Closser also homered for the Sky Sox in that game.

Asher's Ninth: Righty Alec Asher tossed his second-longest start of the season since June 9 at Sacramento when he tallied a season-high seven frames while allowing two runs on seven hits. On Saturday night against the Round Rock Express, Asher battled through six and two-thirds innings and, despite giving up 10 hits, he only allowed three runs.

Clutch Hitting: Saturday night's extra-inning win was greatly benefited by clutch bats in the hands of Jacob Nottingham and Tyrone Taylor. In the fourth inning, Nottingham gave the Sky Sox the 2-1 lead on his eighth home run of the season (two run). Down again in the seventh, Taylor helped the Sky Sox regain the advantage on his two-out, line drive single. In the top of the 10th, Nottingham, again, clutched up with a two-out, two RBI single to centerfield to give the Sky Sox the late lead.

June Recap: The Sky Sox capped off the month of June in victorious fashion in Round Rock, finishing 17-11 overall. Over 28 games, the team batted .261 collectively with 50 doubles, 14 triples, 37 home runs, and 46 stolen bases.

Out-Hit W: The Sky Sox improve to 11-20 when being out-hit by an opponent. On Saturday night, the Sky Sox plated six runs on eight hits while the Express only plated four on their 12 total hits.

Extras, Again: Colorado Springs entered into the sixth extra-inning game and second overall with Round Rock, marking their second victory in extras. Coming into Saturday's contest, the Sky Sox lone win in extra-inning matchups came against Round Rock at Dell Diamond on April 22. The Sky Sox plated four runs in the top of the 10th and just squeaked by the Express after they plated three and stranded the bases loaded to end the game.

That's A New One: To start the top of the 10th inning Saturday, automatic runner Quintin Berry was picked off by Tayler Scott to end the no-out, runner in scoring position threat early on.

All-Star Caliber: Colorado Springs' players participating in the 31st Triple-A mid-summer classic are catcher Christian Bethancourt and infielder Nate Orf. Bethancourt, in his first season with the Brewers organization since signing as a free agent on January 8, 2018, was elected and will be representing Colorado Springs as the Pacific Coast League starting catcher. Orf, in his fifth full season with Milwaukee after signing as a non-drafted free agent on June 14, 2013 out of Baylor University, was selected and will be representing the Sky Sox as an All-Star reserve infielder. It marks the Missouri native's first career selection as a mid-season All-Star.

This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are returning home tomorrow on Independence Day to host the New Orleans Baby Cakes for five games, before going on the three-day All-Star Break, and then hitting the road for five more games against the Baby cakes in New Orleans after the break.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, July 4th at 7:00 p.m. MT vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes @ Security Service Field

RHP Aaron Brooks (4-3, 4.30) vs. RHP Zac Gallen (4-4, 3.47) - Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Jett Bandy (3-for-4, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI)

- Tyrone Taylor (2-for-4, HR, 1 R, 3 RBI)

- Michael Brady (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO)

RR TOP PERFORMERS

- Scott Heineman (4-for-4, 2 R, 1 SB)

- Willie Calhoun (1-for-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 SB)

- Nick Noonan (2-for-4, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI)

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