Quick Hits: Sox Defeat Cubs, Mother Nature 11-7 in Series Opener

Nate Orf filled up the no. 3 spot in the lineup just fine as he reached base five times, tallied four RBI and helped power the Sky Sox to the 11-7 win over the Cubs Thursday night. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox returned home a little downtrodden and riding a four-game losing streak, coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, but put all of that behind them and thwarted the Iowa Cubs and Mother Nature in the 11-7 victory Thursday night. for the seventh straight game the Sox gave up a run in the first inning and trailed 1-0 after half an inning. Daniel Vogelbach drove in the first-inning run with a single. The Sox bounced back with a pair of their own courtesy of Nate Orf’s RBI single and Garin Cecchini’s RBI double. Iowa responded with a three-run third inning, but that would be the final lead they would hold as Colorado Springs notched four runs in the rain-lengthened fifth inning, two more in the sixth and another three in the seventh. Orf gave the Sox the lead for good following the 33-minute rain delay with a single against the Cubs’ Jake Buchanan that brought him 2 RBI and scored a third run thanks to an Iowa error. Wily Peralta lasted 3 1/3 innings and was relieved by Tim Dillard in the fourth. Dillard would collect the win, his fifth of the season.

Hitting Notes –

The Sky Sox banged out 13 hits and scored 11 runs in their triumphant return to Security Service Field. After notching two runs in the first inning, the Sox would score four in the fifth, two in the sixth, and three more insurance runs in the seventh. Three Sox had multi-hit games and hitters 1-8 each collected a base hit.

Nate Orf was outstanding. The second baseman went 3-for-3 with a walk, hit by pitch, and plated four runs from the number three spot in the order. Orf also collected two runs scored himself. He extended his hitting streak to 8 games in the win.

Orlando Arcia backed up his big game in the finale of the OKC series with another to-hit performance against the Cubs. He went 2-for-4 with a double two runs scored and two RBI.

Josmil Pinto collected the other multi-hit game for the Sox and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He continues to up his average as it now sits at .364 and his hitting streak is up to 11 games.

Garin Cecchini went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the win.

Kyle Wren played table setter very well again and went 1-for-3 with 2 walks, and THREE runs scored.

Keon Broxton was gifted another triple for the second time this week. With hail and rain falling in the seventh inning Broxton hit a towering popup to left, but the wind twisted in to center and it fell harmlessly about 15 feet behind second base for a three-bagger.

Pitching Notes –

Wily Peralta couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning for the fourth time in five outings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, four walks, and two strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings. He left in line for his third loss, but was bailed out by the offense’s production. He threw 74 pitches, 39 of which went for strikes.

Tim Dillard was the first summoned from the Sky Sox bullpen and he turned in 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of the starter. He battled the Cubs and the rain delay to the tune of two hits and five strikeouts and earned the victory, which brings him to 5-1 on the season.

Austin Ross struggled and Iowa nearly tied the game against the righty. He gave up three runs on four hits, a walk, and two strikeouts.

David Goforth and Michael Kirkman combined for two scoreless with three walks and three strikeouts.

Play of the Game –

Orlando Arcia was hit by a Jake Buchanan pitch right before the game was delayed 33-minutes due to inclement weather. Not only did that extend the inning, but it gave Nate Orf a chance to deliver with the bases loaded and one out, and deliver he did. Orf knocked a single into right, which scored two and Mark Zagunis, the Cubs RFer made an errant throw to third which allowed Arcia to score and gave the Sky Sox the lead for good.

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