The Colorado Springs Sky Sox erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning, leading to a rain-shortened 10-5 victory over the Reno Aces in front of 4,395 Friday night at Security Service Field.
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning, leading to a rain-shortened 10-5 victory over the Reno Aces in front of 4,395 Friday night at Security Service Field.
The Sox (60-36) jumped on top during their first at-bats, as Nate Orf lined a triple to the right-centerfield gap to score Kyle Wren three batters in. The starting right fielder now has seven three-baggers in 2017, tied with Wren for the team lead.
Reno (57-42) tied the game with a run in the top of the second inning, but the hosts responded and retook the lead on a solo home run to right field off the bat of Tyler Heineman. The Sox catcher launched his first home run of the season off Aces starter Frank Duncan, marking his first home run since June 28, 2016, when he played for the Fresno Grizzlies against the Tacoma Rainiers.
After the visitors plated four runs in the fourth inning, Orf helped chip into the deficit, driving in Wren for the second time on a two-out single to left field in the bottom of the fifth. With his multi-RBI night, Orf has recorded 12 games with at least two RBI this season.
Held to five hits through the first five innings, the Sky Sox offense pulled ahead for good with seven runs in the sixth inning to knock Duncan from the game. With runners on the corners and one out, Heineman lined a double to right-centerfield to score Chris Colabello. One batter later, Andrew Barbosa recorded the first RBI of his career, grounding out to shortstop Jack Reinheimer to score Yadiel Rivera and tie the game.
Two batters later, Mauricio Dubón lined a single up the middle to give the hosts the lead. Heineman scored the go-ahead run and Wren scored his third run of the evening when center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker misplayed the single. Orf added some insurance with his second RBI single of the night and De Jesus clubbed his first home run at Security Service Field to put the exclamation point on the seven-run inning.
Barbosa (5-1, 5.18) earned the win in relief of starter Taylor Jungmann, pitching three perfect innings while striking out six Aces in the process. Tyler Cravy pitched a 1-2-3 scoreless eighth inning to keep the Sky Sox eight games ahead of second-place Oklahoma City in the PCL American North Division, as well as give Colorado Springs their first win over Reno since August 15, 2015. Rain in the area caused the game to be completed after seven and a half innings.
The four-game series continues Saturday night at 6 p.m. MT as RHP Paolo Espino (4-1, 3.86) looks to secure his first win since his return to Colorado Springs. Saturday is also Pixar Night at the ballpark, featuring characters from Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles and Toy Story, as well as a post-game fireworks show with the soundtrack of Pixar movies in the background.
