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Sky Sox Hit Slew of Homers in Third Straight Win

July 2, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


ROUND ROCK, Tex. - After a tight extra-inning game last night, the Sky Sox ran away with game three with a 7-2 victory on the back of five homers, including a pair from All-Star Nate Orf.

In the top of the first inning, Nate Orf hit what would be the first of many Sky Sox home runs to give Colorado Springs an early 1-0 lead. However, in the bottom of the first inning, Scott Heineman blasted a solo homer for the home team to tie the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Express took their first and only lead of the night. Drew Robinson drew a one-out walk, coming home on a Heineman triple for Heineman's second RBI of the night to give Round Rock a 2-1 lead.

In the next half-frame, in the top of the fourth, the Sky Sox offense exploded. Orf hit a double, followed by a Domingo Santana single to score Orf and tie the game. Jacob Nottingham then hit a two-run shot to clear the bases, followed immediately by a Christian Bethancourt home run to make it 5-2.

In the next inning, Orf homered again for his second longball of the night and sixth of the season to make it a 6-2 affair.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Sky Sox added to their lead in the seventh. With one out on the board and no one on, Tyrone Taylor hit the Sky Sox' fifth and final homer of the night to extend Colorado Springs' lead to 7-2, which would prove to be the final score of the night, with the Sky Sox winning their third straight game over the Express in Round Rock.

The Sky Sox are on the road in the midst of a five-game set against the Express in Round Rock, before returning home on Independence Day to host the New Orleans Baby Cakes for five games. 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 game four, the Sky Sox are sending righty Brandon Woodruff to the mound to square off against Round Rock's righty Adrian Sampson. Woodruff is looking for his third win whereas Sampson is looking for his fourth.

Orf Orf Orf: The two home run game by Nate Orf Sunday night marks the second time that Orf has homered twice in a game in a Sky Sox uniform. The other instance came almost one year ago, on July 2nd, 2017 at Werner Park in Omaha. Orf becomes the third Sky Sox player to have a two-homer game at the Dell Diamond. The other two instances came during Rockies affiliation, both in 2014 (by Jason Pridie on April 10th, 2014 and by Dustin Garneau on July 10th, 2014). The three runs through the fifth gave him 204 regular season runs scored, jumping over Matt Miller and Jason Bates into sole possession of 8th place in career runs scored (regular season) in a Sky Sox uniform. The double in the Sunday contest was his 69th regular season double with the Sky Sox, tying him with Edgard Velasquez Clemente for 13th all time in doubles. The ten total bases through the fifth gave him 469 total bases, jumping over Derrick Gibson and Eric Young, Jr. for 19th place in career total bases (regular season). The three extra base hits by Orf through the fifth inning gave him 103 extra base hits in his Sky Sox career, tying him with Jayson Nix for 21st on the career extra base hits list. The single by Nate Orf in the 9th inning, his 4th hit of the night, gave him 316 regular season hits in his career with the Sky Sox, tying him with Tim Wheeler for 16th place on the Sky Sox career hits list. (Next up in 15th: Jim Tatum, with 318 regular season hits.)

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 Sundau 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.

More Steals: Recently named PCL All-Star Nate Orf and fellow infielder Jake Hager stole the team's league-leading 112th and 113th bags against Round Rock in game two at Dell Diamond. Orf has 19 total on the season while Hager marked his first stolen bag of the season with the Sky Sox.

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.

Wheels: With Brett Phillips' RBI triple in the third inning Thursday night, that was Phillips' 7th triple this season, and his 17th career regular season triple with the Sky Sox. With that triple, Phillips passes Ben Paulsen into a tie for 8th place all-time in career regular season triples at 17, with Choo Freeman, and current teammate Nate Orf. (Next up at tied for 6th: Edgard Velasquez Clemente and Nelson Liriano, with 18 triples each.)

7-Run 7th: The 7-run 7th inning by Memphis on Thursday marks the first time that Memphis scored 7 runs in the 7th inning against the Sky Sox. It's the most runs scored in an inning against the Sky Sox since Memphis scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, back on May 19th (Game 2 of DH). The last time an opponent scored at least 7 runs in the 7th inning against the Sky Sox was on May 11th, 2017, when Sacramento scored a whopping 13 runs in the top of the 7th against the Sky Sox. The 13 runs were the most runs scored by any opponent in a single inning against the Sky Sox in the modern team's history (since 1988). Sacramento won that game, 17-7.

Middle-of-the-Week Triumph: With the come-from-behind walk off win on Wednesday afternoon, the Sky Sox improved to 9-1 through their first 10 Wednesday contests this season.

Don't (Or Do) Call It a Comeback: Prior to Wednesday's come-from-behind win, the Sky Sox were 2-20 in games when trailing after six innings this season.

Not the First Time: The Sky Sox won game three against the Redbirds on Wednesday afternoon in wild fashion with a bases-loaded walk off balk in the bottom of the ninth. On April 13th, 2005, in game one of a doubleheader against the Tucson Sidewinders, Jason Bulger balked in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th, with the Sky Sox winning 4-3 in seven innings.

This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are on the road in Round Rock to face the Express for five games, before returning home on Independence Day to host the New Orleans Baby Cakes for five games prior to the All-Star Break July 9-11.

NEXT GAME: Monday, 7/2 at 6:05 p.m. MT vs. Round Rock Express @ Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX

RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 3.09) vs. RHP Adrian Sampson (3-3, 5.63) - Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

Next Home Game: Wednesday, July 4 at 7:00 p.m. MT @ Security Service Field

COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Nate Orf (4-for-5, 2 HR, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI)

- Christian Bethancourt (2-for-5, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI)

- Jacob Nottingham (1-for-5, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI)

RR TOP PERFORMERS

- Scott Heineman (2-for-4, 3B, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI)

- Willie Calhoun (2-for-4, 2B)

- Chris Jensen (4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 SO)

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