Orlando Arcia hit a solo homer to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth inning of last night’s game in Sacramento. The blast extended his hitting streak to 14 games, a Sky Sox high for 2016 and longest for a Sky Sox player since Matt Dominguez and Jason Roger’s 16-gamers last season. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)
Colorado Springs was held to just two runs on five hits in the series opener against the Sacramento River Cats Monday night at Raley Field. The five total hits is the lowest number in two weeks for the Sky Sox, they last tallied just five hits on May 10 in a 1-0 loss to New Orleans, on the road. The River Cats tallied runs in the first and third innings, while the Sky Sox continued their habit of coming back, thanks to a Manny Pina RBI single in the fourth and Orlando Arcia’s game-tying solo homer to dead center against Sergio Romo in the sixth. However, just as often as the Sky Sox tie games, it seems like they give the lead back in the next half inning just as frequently, and it happened again Monday in the form of a two-run sixth for Sac-Town, which was ultimately the difference in the 4-2 tilt.
Hitting Notes –
The Sky Sox recorded just five hits and not one batter had a multiple-hit game. All of this coming off a homestand on which the team plated 34 runs on 70 hits in six games. The top three in the lineup (Rivera, Peterson and Arcia) each had a hit.
Orlando Arcia served as one of the bright spots for the Sky Sox last night. He stepped into the box 0-for-2 in the sixth and had the tall task of facing Sergio Romo down from the Giants on an MLB rehab assignment. Arcia wasted no time and took the first pitch he saw from the big leaguer deep and out to center for a solo home run that tied the game 2-2. Hopefully we get to see a few more of these match ups in the big leagues soon. Not only did the homer tie the game, it extended Arcia’s hitting streak to 14-games during which he’s hitting .355 (22-for-62) with 5 XBHs and 5 RBI. El Paso’s Alex Dickerson is still riding the PCL-best 21 gamer.
Shane Peterson collected a double and scored a run in the loss. He’s now collected 5 hits, 3 runs, and 4 RBI since coming off the disabled list on 5/20.
Manny Pina reached base twice with an RBI single and a walk and is hitting .352 on the season, which is good enough for 4th in the PCL.
Pitching Notes –
Sam Freeman made his first career start last night after 379 appearances out of minor and major league bullpens. The plan was 2 innings or around 40 pitches, but unfortunately it was the latter that came into play. Freeman allowed a run on a hit, 3 walks, and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of work. He threw 45 pitches, 23 for strikes before handing it over to the bullpen.
Ariel Pena entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the second, but got his man to end the threat. He ultimately was charged with the loss as he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts over four innings of work. His record dropped to 0-2 and ERA inflated to 7.23.
Austin Ross allowed a pair of inherited runners to score, but recorded 1 1/3 scoreless innings with 2 hits and 1 walk allowed while striking out a trio of River Cats.
Drew Gagnon kept it a 2-run game with a scoreless eighth in which he K’d a pair.
Play of the Game –
Orlando Arcia stepped in with one out and nobody on against the San Francisco Giants outstanding, veteran reliever Sergio Romo. Arcia had just watched Shane Peterson strike out swinging against the righty so he wasn’t waiting around. The 21-year old shortstop picked on the first pitch he saw and drove it to center for a solo homer that tied the game 2-2.
Pre-Game Interview with Brewers Pitching Coordinator Rick Tomlin (Pt. 1)
Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,
Dan
Colorado Springs Sky Sox Official Team Blog 