SKY SOX CLINCH 6-5 VICTORY OVER ROUND ROCK IN EXTRAS

POSTGAME NOTES
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (12-5) @ Round Rock Express (5-13)
SKY SOX CLINCH 6-5 VICTORY OVER ROUND ROCK IN EXTRAS
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox evened the series with a close 6-5 victory in extras over the Express Sunday afternoon in Round Rock, improving their record to 12-5 on the season. Right-hander Bubba Derby led the pitching front after a solid five and two-thirds shutout innings while surrendering just one hit. Colorado native Shane Opitz highlighted the day offensively with his 3-for-3 performance, finishing a home run shy of the cycle.
After a quiet three frames with four hits in the entire game, the Sky Sox broke through first offensively yet again in the fourth when Christian Bethancourt connected with his third home run of 2018, a solo home run to make it a 1-0 game. The home run marked the second leadoff home run for Colorado Springs in three games.
In the seventh, the Sky Sox added their second run when Opitz slugged his third hit on the afternoon, a two-out triple to right field to bring around Gabriel Noriega who doubled previously with one out.
The Express got within a run after Willie Calhoun knocked his third home run of the season, marking just the second hit of the game for Round Rock.
In the bottom of the ninth, a one-out triple by Christian Lopes would set up Tony Sanchez for his game-tying base hit to left field to tie the game at 2-2, sending the Sky Sox to extra innings for the first time in the 2018 season.
With the new Minor League Baseball Pace of Play rules in effect, catcher Robie Rojas, who was the last out of the top of the ninth for the Sky Sox, started the inning off at second base. Nate Orf successfully sacrificed with a bunt to move Rojas to third base while Mauricio Dubón hit an RBI double to plate the go-ahead run and extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Following Dubon's double, Andrés Blanco smacked a hit up the middle while Keon Broxton tripled and Noriega added a single to extend the Sky Sox lead to 6-2.
In the tenth for the Express, with Hanser Alberto starting on second base and righty Tim Dillard into pitch, Jose Cardona grounded out to record the first out and advance the runner to third base. The Express went on to collect three more singles to bring them within one run. With two outs and two on, Dillard hit Tony Sanchez to load the bases. Nick Noonan, representing the eighth batter of the half, would see four pitches before popping out to shortstop and stranding the potential winning run on second base.
The Sky Sox will head into the final game against Round Rock tomorrow before returning to Security Service Field on Wednesday for a nine-game home stretch.
__NOTES__
Extras For First Time: Sunday afternoon marked the first time in the 2018 season where the Sky Sox entered extra innings with the new Pace of Play regulations, and the Sky Sox did not waste any time. In the top of the 10th, Colorado Springs batted through the lineup, collecting four runs on five hits, including two extra-base hits (Dubon, Broxton). The four-run 10th inning is the third most runs scored by the Sky Sox in a 10th inning. The other two times with more runs: June 14th, 1999 at Calgary - Sky Sox scored seven runs in the top of the 10^th to beat Calgary 10-3 - and April 25th, 2010 at Reno - Sky Sox scored five runs in the top of the 10th, however Reno scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 10th, with Reno winning 11-10.
Low-Hit Rhythm: Sky Sox starters Bubba Derby and Brandon Woodruff only allowed four hits combined in the past two games. On Saturday night, despite not getting a decision, Woodruff had another excellent start for the Sky Sox, taking a one-hitter into the sixth inning, giving up three total upon exit. Derby has his best start thus far in 2018 only allowing a solo hit through five and two-thirds frames. The only hit he allowed came off the bat of Ryan Rua in the second. In total the past two days, Sky Sox starters have totaled 10.2 innings pitched with four hits, 10 strikeouts, and five walks.
There's Another: Catcher Christian Bethancourt marked the Sky Sox second leadoff home run of the season which was in the fourth inning to put Colorado Springs up 1-0. Infielder Mauricio Dubon collected the Sky Sox first leadoff home run of the season, also coming in the fourth inning off of Adam Conley to tie the game at one apiece on April 20.
Just Missed: Centennial, Colorado native Shane Opitz came just short of the cycle on Sunday afternoon. In the second inning, he collected the team's second hit of the day, a double to left field. In the fifth, he singled on a ground ball to centerfield. Finally, in the seventh, he knocked a two-out RBI triple to plate the second run of the game. Opitz walked in his final two at bats to remain perfect on the day.
Getting Streaky: Mauricio Dubon extended his hit streak to 12 games Sunday afternoon. Dubon has gone 17-for-52 over 12 games with nine runs, two home runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases. His longest recorded streak in 2017 with the Sky Sox was seven games. Phillips looks to keep his alive as he is currently at five games. Last season, his high streak was 11 games.
Keep the Momentum: So far this season, the Sky Sox hold a 5-0 team record when facing left-handed starters. Sunday afternoon, southpaw Yohander Méndez did not take a decision but the Sky Sox remain perfect at 5-0 team record when facing a lefty starter.
Monday's Expectation: In the final game of the three-game set at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas, right-hander Aaron Brooks (1-1, 4.05) gets the ball for the Sky Sox while righty Adrian Sampson (0-2, 9.64) is set to oppose him on the bump for the Express.
Previewing Next Week: The Sky Sox are set for one of the longest homestands of 2018 next week - a nine-game stretch while hosting the Omaha Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliate of the Royals, and the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
NEXT GAME: Monday, April 23 @ Round Rock Express - 5:05 p.m. MDT @ Dell Diamond (Round Rock)
RHP Aaron Brooks (1-1, 4.05) vs. RHP Adrian Sampson (0-2, 9.64) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
   COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Shane Opitz (3-for-3, 3B, 2B, RBI, 2 BB)
• Gabriel Noriega (3-for-5, R, RBI, 2B)
• Bubba Derby (5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K)

   R.R. TOP PERFORMERS

• Christian Lopes (2-for-5, RBI, 3B, R)
• Willie Calhoun (1-for-5, HR, R, RBI)
• Yohander Mendez (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K)