Sky Sox Bounce Back with Big Win to Finish Road Trip

Published on June 12, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


SACRAMENTO, Cali. - After losing in walk-off fashion yesterday, the Sky Sox finished their road trip and this series strong by scoring in each of the first three innings Monday night en route to a 7-1 victory over the River Cats to even the series at two games apiece.

Nate Orf began the final game of this series by being hit by pitch in the game's first at-bat, stealing second with Tyrone Taylor at the plate in the next at-bat. Taylor then drew a five-pitch walk to quickly put two on for Colorado Springs. The two baserunners then pulled off a double steal, before Jacob Nottingham drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Christian Bethancourt then hit a sacrifice fly to score Orf for the first run of the game, and with two outs on the board and two runners on the basepaths, Andres Blanco hit his third triple of the season to clear the bases and give Colorado Springs an early 3-0 lead. Keon Broxton then hit a ground-rule double to score Blanco and extend the Sky Sox lead to four runs.

In the top of the second inning, Colorado Springs' starting pitcher Adrian Houser helped out his own cause with a leadoff single for the Sky Sox, advancing to second on a Brett Phillips single. Nottingham drew a walk to load the bases, and with nowhere to put him, Bethancourt was hit by pitch to send Houser trotting home to make it a 5-0 game.

After the River Cats went three up and three down in the bottom of the second, the Sky Sox were back at it in the top of the third inning. Blanco led off with a single, and then four pitches later Broxton hit a two-run homer to give the Sky Sox a commanding 7-0 lead. The Sky Sox wouldn't score again in the inning, but Houser did collect his second single of the night in the frame, going 2-for-3 at the plate tonight with a run scored.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the home team broke up the shutout with a homer of their own. With one out on the board, Ryder Jones hit a line drive solo home run off of Houser that got out of the park in a hurry, but that would prove to be Sacramento's only run of the evening.

Sacramento made some noise in the eighth inning, refusing to go quietly into the night. Stephen Duggar hit a ball to dead center in the first at-bat of the frame, with Broxton catching it on the warning track right at the wall for the first out of the inning. Kelby Tomlinson then drew a walk, and on the next pitch Chris Shaw hit a hard single right back up the middle that nearly struck Sky Sox pitcher Bubba Derby, to put two on. A passed ball by Colorado Springs catcher Bethancourt moved the runners up to second and third, but Derby managed to work out of the inning to send it to the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth inning Jorge Lopez came in to pitch for the Sky Sox, striking out the first two batters he faced before being pulled from the game and replaced on the mound by Jon Perrin. Perrin gave up a two-out walk to Josh Rutledge before collecting the final out of the game to secure the 7-1 win for the Sky Sox.

The Sky Sox completed the four-game series against the Sacramento River Cats tonight and return home tomorrow, beginning their homestand on Wednesday with a three-game set against the Las Vegas 51s, with first pitch on Wednesday scheduled for 6:40 p.m. MT. For all information on Sky Sox, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the team's website at www.skysox.com.

NOTES

Wednesday's Preview: In the first game of the three-game series against the Las Vegas 51s at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, the Sky Sox are sending righty Corbin Burnes to the mound to face a yet-to-be-determined opponent for Las Vegas.

Orf Climbs the Leader Boards: The first inning hit by pitch by Nate Orf was his 28th career hit by pitch (regular season) with the Sky Sox, putting him currently in fourth place all-time in that category. Orf's next hit by pitch will tie Jayhawk Owens for third place all time with 29 HBP. The subsequent stolen bases by Orf were his 26th and 27th career stolen bases with the Sky Sox (regular season), moving him into 22nd place all-time, passing Derrick Gibson and current Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, both with 26 SB. Next up at tied for 20th: Jason Pridie and Tim Wheeler with 28 SB. Orf's sole run scored Monday night was his 187th run scored (regular season) with the Sky Sox, moving him into sole place of 13th place in runs scored, leaving current teammate Kyle Wren in 14th place (186 R). Next up in 12th: Ben Petrick at 194 runs.

Helping his Own Cause: Adrian Houser, who started on the mound for the Sky Sox Monday night, helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles and a run scored. He also threw five innings of four-hit, one-run baseball, striking out four Sacramento batters and walking just one.

Road Stats: Colorado Springs is now 5-11 over their last 16 road games. Over nine games in Tennessee, the Sky Sox only nabbed a single win in each of the series. The Sky Sox went 3-4 on this California road trip.

Business As Usual: Freddy Peralta put together yet another strong outing on Sunday. In his last 50 batters faced, the 22-year-old has only allowed six hits, four walks, two runs, and struck out 23.

New High: The 11-strikeout appearance on Sunday marked a season high for Freddy Peralta with the Sky Sox, and the second-best strikeout appearance of the season for a Sky Sox pitcher. The best so far this season was by Corbin Burnes when he struck out 13 Oklahoma City batters in seven innings pitched at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on May 6 (also resulting in a no-decision). The 11-strikeout appearance for Peralta is also the second-most strikeouts in a game against the Sacramento River Cats. Back on July 2nd, 2012, Edward Cabrera struck out 13 River Cats batters in 6 2/3 IP at Raley Field (Sky Sox won 5-3).

Walked Off: The Sky Sox were walked off on for the fourth time in 2018 in the third game at Raley Field against the Sacramento River Cats.

Phillips Goes Deep: Outfielder Brett Phillips knocked his third home run of the 2018 season and his second long-ball of the month on Sunday. Phillips first home run didn't come until May 23 when on the road in Nashville. In 2017, the Florida native knocked 19 homers throughout the season.

Double-Trouble for Taylor: Tyrone Taylor collected two doubles in Sunday afternoon's contest, marking the first time he has met the feat all season. It was his fifth multi-hit game of the campaign.

Strong Rehab: Eric Thames, who joined the Sky Sox on an MLB rehab assignment Wednesday night, went 6-for-14 over four games on the road trip. In his first game in Fresno, he went 2-for-4 with two singles against the Grizzlies. In game two, he collected one single. On Saturday night, he broke out with three hits, including a home run.

Double Digits: The Sky Sox entered into double-digits on the board in the hits column Saturday night with 12 total. It was the first time Colorado Springs met the feat since June 2 at Security Service Field against Iowa with 15 hits collected.

Taylor's Assistance: Tyrone Taylor came away with two assists Saturday night from the outfield when Chase d'Arnaud was caught stretching a triple in the second inning and when Ryan Hanigan was caught stretching a double on his single in the fifth inning.

Sacrifice: Brett Phillips' two sacrifice flies Saturday night tied the club record for sacrifice flies in a game, marking the 19th time where a Sky Sox player has had two sacrifice flies in a game. The last occurrence took place earlier on this road trip on Wednesday night in Fresno by Kyle Wren.

Looking at Fresno Firsts: Thursday night marked the final scheduled meeting between the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and the Fresno Grizzlies. The first Sky Sox game against the Fresno Grizzlies came on April 21, 1998, at Security Service Field. The Fresno Grizzlies beat the Sky Sox, 7-3. Jeff Ball went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Doug Mirabelli went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI for Fresno in the win. The first Sky Sox game in Fresno was on August 15, 1998, at Pete Beiden Field, Fresno Grizzlies beat the Sky Sox, 15-7. Armando Rios belted a grand slam homer, while Jalal Leach went 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI for Fresno in the win.

This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox have finished their first round of Pacific Coast conference games. The team returns home on Tuesday and starts a seven-game homestand at Security Service Field on Wednesday, June 13, beginning with a three-game set against the Las Vegas 51s.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, June 13 vs. Las Vegas - 6:40 p.m. MT @ Security Service Field

RHP Corbin Burnes (2-4, 5.14) vs. TBD | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Adrian Houser (W, 5.0 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 4 SO)

- Keon Broxton (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB)

- Andres Blanco (2-for-3, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB)

SAC TOP PERFORMERS

- Tyler Rogers (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO)

- Chris Shaw (2-for-4)

- Ryder Jones (1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2018


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