Josmil Pinto is riding a team-high seven game hitting streak, over which he is batting 7-for-21 (.333) with 4 runs scored and 5 RBI. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox backed up their thrilling come-from-behind walk-off victory Thursday night by scoring in the first inning and jumping out to an early 1-0 lead over Omaha Friday night. The lead, however, would be short-lived as the Chasers tied the game in the third and took the lead in the sixth. Josh Hader made his home debut and put on another show, limiting the Storm Chasers to the two runs on seven hits, three walks and six strikeouts. The side-slinging lefty induced three double plays and busted a number of bats in the process. He did fall to 0-2 with the loss, but has given up just four runs through his first 12 Triple-A innings. Rene Garcia, Orlando Arcia, and Andy Wilkins collected a pair of hits apiece.

Tonight, the Sky Sox and Storm Chasers square off in game two of the four game series at Security Service Field. Tim Dillard was a late addition to the rotation and will make his second start of the season tonight, both have come against the Royals top affiliate. He earned the win with five scoreless against the Chasers on June 3 at SSF. Righty Miguel Almonte, MLBPipeline’s no. 4 Royals’ prospect climbs the hill tonight for the 11th time this season and first against the Sky Sox. Dillard is 4-0 with a save and a 3.24 ERA in 11 outings this season, while Almonte is 3-4 with a 5.35 ERA across his first 10 outings this season. The Sox are 5-4 this season against Omaha, 44-52 at home, and 75-113 all-time against the Storm Chasers.

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Today’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 5:30 MDT / Lineups 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (29-34) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (29-37) – 6:05 p.m. – Security Service Field – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pitching Matchup: RHP Tim Dillard  (4-0, 3.24) vs. RHP Miguel Almonte (3-4, 5.2)

Sky Sox Pitcher: Righty Tim Dillard gets the call for a spot start tonight against the Storm Chasers. He will climb the mound for the 12th time and make his second start of the year, oddly enough, both have come against the Storm Chasers. Dillard is 4-0 with a save and a 3.24 ERA over his first 11 appearances and has allowed 9 runs on 22 hits, 8 walks, and 25 strikeouts. Opponents in the league are hitting .242 against the side-arming righty. Dillard started against Omaha on June 3rd and held them scoreless over five innings, scattered five hits, walked one and struck out five. He threw 84 pitches, 55 for strikes. The most pitched for him since 2010.  Dillard was drafted by the Brewers in the 34th round of the 2002 draft and spent his 14 year career within the walls of the Milwaukee organization. Over that stretch, the righty is 76-53 with 16 saves and a 3.78 ERA in 407 MiLB games and 1-4 with a 4.70 ERA in 73 MLB games.

Last Time Out: 6/15/16 vs. Iowa – Dillard came out of the pen in relief of Hiram Burgos and limited the high-powered Cubs’ offense to 2 runs on 2 hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout. He threw 37 pitches, 21 for strikes in a game the Sox would lose 6-5.

Last 10 games with the Sky Sox:

Storm Chasers Pitcher: Righty Miguel Almonte is slated to make his 11th appearance and 10th start with the Storm Chasers tonight at Security Service Field. The righty has compiled a 3-4 record with a 5.35 ERA in the 10 outings and has allowed 28 runs, 22 earned on 37 hits, 24 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 37 innings on the bump. Almonte is ranked by MLBPipeline as the 4th-best prospect in the organization. The righty was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Royals in 2010 out of the Dominican Republic. He has accrued a 29-29 record with a 3.75 ERA in 107 minor-league outings and is 0-2  with a 6.23 ERA in nine big-league relief appearances. Almonte made his MLB debut September 1, 2015 against the Tigers and allowed his first home run to Ian Kinsler.

Last Time Out: 6/13/16 at Oklahoma City – Almonte started against the Dodgers and lasted just 38 pitches and recorded one out. The righty gave up 4 runs on 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 1 in his second start one-third of an inning in length. Almote took the loss and the Storm Chasers fell 9-3.

2016 Game Log –

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will have the call of tonight’s game from Security Service Field at 6:05 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup will get off and running at 5:35 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson