The Colorado Springs Sky Sox snapped their two-game losing streak, rallying with two runs in the sixth inning to defeat the New Orleans Baby Cakes, 7-6, in front of 2,505 at Security Service Field Thursday night.
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox snapped their two-game losing streak, rallying with two runs in the sixth inning to defeat the New Orleans Baby Cakes, 7-6, in front of 2,505 at Security Service Field Thursday night.
The Sky Sox (26-17) took their first lead of the series in the bottom of the second inning, scoring four runs off Adam Conley to take a 4-1 lead. Nate Orf continued his recent hot spell, extending his season-high hitting streak to six games by clubbing a two-run double to right-center to plate Garrett Cooper and Brett Phillips.
The lead was extended two batters later, René García reached on a throwing error, scoring Orf. Kyle Wren then hit the second double of the inning with two outs, plating Garcia with a two-bagger off the right field wall for his 17th RBI of the season.
Orf drove in his third run of the game in the third inning, lofting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Brinson and extend the margin to five. Entering Thursday night's game, Orf posted a .395 batting average (15-for-38), scoring seven runs and driving in five in his past 10 games.
New Orleans (17-30) rallied to tie the game at five with four runs in the sixth inning, but the Sox responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 7-5 lead. With two on and one out, Wren grounded a single up the middle to score Rivera for his second RBI of the night. Two batters later, Victor Payano balked, allowing Gabriel Noriega to score the eventual game-winning run.
After Paolo Espino pitched 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision, Wei-Chung Wang (2-0, 2.53) earned his second win of the season, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Wang escaped a jam in the seventh inning, as Tomás Telis and Brandon Barnes led off the frame with a pair of singles. The lefty from Taiwan snagged a comebacker and then struck Moisés Sierra and Nick Noonan out looking to end the threat.
Tyler Cravy earned his second save of the year on a game-ending double play after Ivan De Jesus caught a pop up and then threw to Garcia covering first base to double off Sierra.
The Sox look for their third straight series split Friday night at 7 p.m. MT, when LHP Brent Suter (2-1, 3.63) takes the hill against New Orleans' Scott Copeland (3-5, 5.72). The series finale is the 2017 Heroes' Classic and Jersey Auction, where fans can bid on specialty jerseys during an in-game silent auction, with the funds benefiting the Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Springs Fire Department and the Wounded Warrior Project. There will also be a postgame fireworks show to wrap up the homestand.
