Sky Sox Update: Wheelers have big night around MiLB; Sox offense back on track

Sky Sox 2014 home opener at Security Service FieldSLUMP BUSTED: In Monday’s game, 3B Ryan Wheeler (above) had his first three-hit game of the season, falling a triple shy of the cycle, while driving in three runs. Prior to the game, however, Wheeler was just 1-for-25 in his last six games, dropping his season average to .210, but now is up to .235 (20-for-85).

BIG NIGHT FOR WHEELERS: With both Ryan and Tim Wheeler homering in Monday’s game, it became the third time that both Wheelers went deep in the same time. The previous two times were 7/9/13 and game two of a doubleheader on 8/15/2013. Not only did Ryan and Tim have a big night, Ryan’s younger brother, Jason Wheeler, threw a complete game shutout for the Ft. Myers Miracle, allowing just two hits while striking out three. Finally, Zelous Wheeler, an infielder for Scranton-Wilkes Barre, hit a game-winning home run in the 13th inning. He finished 3-for-6.

HIT ATTACK: In the past two games, the Sky Sox are hitting .330 (29-for-88) with 13 runs to break out of an offensive funk from the previous six games. In six games prior to Saturday against Iowa, the Sky Sox were hitting only .167 (30-for-180) with just eight runs scored.

BETTIS PERFECT IN DEBUT: On Monday, RHP Chad Bettis made his Triple-A and Sky Sox debut by tossing a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, while fanning two batters. It was his first appearance since being optioned by Colorado on Saturday.

Sox fall 16-12 to the Express.MASSET DOMINATING: RHP Nick Masset (left) tossed another perfect inning Monday night, making it 5.2 scoreless innings this season with seven punchouts and zero walks. His only blemish was a single in his first outing of the season. Masset was signed this past offseason by the Rockies to a Minor League deal. He previously spent the past six years in the Cincinnati Reds organization, though he hasn’t pitched in the Big Leagues since 2011 because of a right shoulder injury.

LEADING IT OFF: On just the second pitch of the game, RF Tim Wheeler smacked his fourth homer of the season off RHP Scott McGregor. It was the first lead-off homer by a Sky Sox since Charlie Culberson did so against Sacramento on 7/23/2013. With his homer, Wheeler is now tied for third in the PCL in extra-base hits with 14 and tied for eighth in the league in total bases with 49.

MAC’S BIG NIGHT: C Michael McKenry‘s four-hit night on Saturday was the first four-hit performance by a Sky Sox player this season and first since Josh Rutledge picked up four hits on 8/27/2013 vs. Las Vegas. It was also McKenry’s  seventh four-hit game of his career, including the at the Major League level. He finished 4-for-6 with two runs, three RBI, and a homer.

LOVIN’ LEFTIES: In 20 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this season, OF Kyle Parker is hitting .400 (8-for-20) with three doubles, a triple, three RBI and 6 walks. Against RHPs, he’s hitting .271 (16-for-59) with four doubles,and three homers.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s