Chasers Drop Two Games in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS - Omaha endured a frustrating evening at Security Services Field on Wednesday night, as the Sky Sox took both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 6-5 and 5-0.
Defensive mistakes haunted the Chasers in the first game. They hurt themselves in the bottom of the 1st, as they failed to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play. With the frame extended, the Sky Sox took advantage, as a single by Andy Wilkins scored Manna Pina for a 1-0 Colorado Springs lead.
Hunter Dozier put Omaha level in the top of the 2nd, leading off the inning with his 5th home run for the Chasers (and his 13th overall, including his time in AA this year).
Brian Flynn pitched the first 1.2 innings for Omaha, reaching his pitch limit in the 2nd and handing the ball to Brooks Pounders. Flynn yielded a run on 5 hits, with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.
The Chasers took the lead in the top of the 3rd. With 2 out, Jorge Bonifacio hit his 6th triple of the year (tying him for the PCL lead), and Balbino Fuenmayor followed with an RBI double. It was 2-1 Omaha.
They extended the advantage with 2 more runs in the 4th. Travis Snider walked, and with 1 out, Angel Franco tripled him home. Parker Morin followed with an RBI groundout, making it 4-1 Chasers.
Colorado Springs pulled a run back in the last of the 4th on a Garin Cecchini single, a Michael Reed walk, and a Jake Elmore single. Pounders did well, however, to limit the damage and strand 2 runners, keeping Omaha ahead 4-2.
The Chasers re-extended the lead to 3 with a single tally in the 5th. Christian Colon singled, Bonifacio doubled, and Fuenmayor singled to score Colon for a 5-2 lead. Omaha couldn't score further, however, stranding the bases loaded.
The Sox then pulled to within a run by scoring twice in their half of the 5th. Manny Pina singled, chasing Pounders, who had reached his pitch limit as well. Malcolm Culver (L, 3-3) came in, and yielded a double to Andy Wilkins. Josmil Pinto grounded out, scoring Pina, and with 2 out, Cecchini hit a fly ball to left field that was misplayed into a double by Bonifacio, bringing home Wilkins to make it 5-4.
Omaha's lead disappeared in the last of the 6th on a sacrifice fly by Pinto, which brought in Yadiel Rivera, tying the game at 5.
After the Chasers stranded 2 runners in the top of the 7th, the Sky Sox brought home the winner in the bottom of the inning. Will Middlebrooks singled, went to 2nd on a critical wild pitch, and advanced to 3rd on a groundout. Michael Reed hit a slow ground ball to 2nd, and Middlebrooks beat the throw home, giving the Sky Sox a 6-5 win.
Jaye Chapman (5-1) was the winning pitcher in Game 1, throwing 2 scoreless innings over the 6th and 7th.
Game 2 of the twinbill saw the Chasers hit into 3 double plays in the first 3 innings. Clay Mortensen (L, 1-2) tossed 2 scoreless innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the 3rd.
Yadiel Rivera began the Sky Sox rally with a 1-out double. Orlando Arcia followed with an infield single, and a wild pitch sent Rivera to the plate. Manny Pina then doubled, plating Arcia, and it was 2-0 Colorado Springs.
Mortensen was charged with 2 runs on 6 hits over 3 innings, with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Colorado Springs doubled the lead in the 4th against Mark Peterson. Cecchini again was in the thick of it, leading off with a double. He advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch with 1 out, and Michael Reed drew a walk to put 2 runners on. Reed stole 2nd, and Yadiel Rivera singled home both men for a 4-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Brent Suter (W, 1-2), who tossed 6 scoreless innings, scattering 6 hits. He struck out 1 and walked 1.
Travis Snider made his 2nd pitching appearance of the year; the outfielder tossed the bottom of the 6th for Omaha, saving the rest of the Chasers' bullpen. The Sky Sox added a run against him, giving them the 5-0 advantage.
Austin Ross recorded the final 3 outs in the 7th, completing the combined shutout.
The teams will play a standard 9-inning game tomorrow. LHP Jon Dziedzic (1-5, 4.25) makes the start for the Chasers, with LHP Sam Freeman (0-0, 4.26) on the mound for the Sky Sox. First pitch will be at 8:05 Central time.