Offense Erupts To Secure Series Split

Yadiel Rivera drove in four runs and the bullpen combined to throw five shutdown relief innings to help the Colorado Springs Sky Sox defeat the Albuquerque Isotopes, 11-2, in front of 4,826 at Isotopes Park Monday afternoon.

With the victory, the Sky Sox (25-15) earned a split of the lone four-game series with Albuquerque, coming back home with a two-game winning streak after dropping the first two games of the set. After scoring seven runs in the past four games combined, the Sox offense came to life, ending the road trip with an 11-run, 18-hit outburst.
The isotopes jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the second inning, but Colorado Springs sent 10 batters to the plate to take a commanding lead the second time through the lineup against Thad Weber. Ivan De Jesus and Ryan Cordell used back-to-back doubles to score a pair of runs and give the Sox their first lead of the game.
Three batters later, Rivera was hit by a pitch and Tyler Heineman grounded out to add two more runs with the bases loaded. Starting pitcher Michael Blazek continued the hit parade one batter later, lining a two-run single to score Nate Orf and Rivera.
The Sox added some insurance in the eighth inning with two outs. Orf became one of seven Sox batters to record at least one run, drawing a bases-loaded walk from reliever C.C. Lee to force Kyle Wren to score. One batter later, Rivera provided the exclamation point, clearing the bases with a double past the dive of center fielder Mike Tauchman. Wren added the final run one inning later, clubbing a solo home run to center field to expand the margin to 10 runs.
Blazek recorded a solid outing on the mound, receiving a no-decision by going four innings. In those four frames, Blazek scattered five hits, allowing one earned run and striking out four-three of which coming in the third inning to strand a pair of Albuquerque (23-21) runner on first and second.
Tristan Archer (1-1,2.20) earned the win by throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out three batters. Stephen Kohlscheen tossed a perfect two innings, striking out three Isotopes, and Andy Oliver struck out a guy of his own in the ninth.
The Sky Sox return home Tuesday for a four-game series with the New Orleans Baby Cakes at 6:40 p.m. MT in the first meeting between the two American Conference foes. Brandon Woodruff (5-2, 3.02) looks to snap his losing streak against New Orleans' Stephen Fife (2-2, 4.32). The series opener is another $2 Tuesday, with tickets, parking and Coors products selling for a budget-friendly two dollars.