Quick Hits: Welcome Back Rene! Garcia Delivers Walk-Off Single In Sunday’s Wild Affair

Rene Garcia did nothing, but hop off a plane, arrive at the stadium 20 minutes before the game, catch 10 innings, and collect three hits including the game winner. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox dropped the opener of the huge series against the Dodgers Saturday night and needed to bounce back with a win on Sunday, and they did just that. It was a crazy, crazy day that saw the lead change hands six times, it saw the Dodgers commit four errors, and it saw the Sky Sox tie the game with three runs in the ninth, but couldn’t win it in regulation despite the sacks being packed and only one out.

It all started in the first with a run on a couple of hits for the Dodgers against Wily Peralta and then the Sky Sox tied it courtesy of a Kyle Wren double and an Oklahoma City error in the third. Nate Orf connected for a solo shot and Yadiel Rivera singles home a run to give Colorado Springs the 3-1 lead after four innings. The sixth inning saw the Dodgers’ Corey Brown hit a three run homer, his first of two blasts in the tilt, and put the Dodgers in front 4-3, but then the Sox retook the lead courtesy of two errors, and a wild pitch. Back-to-back homers by Brown and Brandon Hicks in the eighth and a run in the ninth made it 8-5 OKC, but two hits, a mental error, a walk and then Orlando Arcia’s two-run single tied the game with one out in ninth. Garin Cecchini took the first pitch he saw from Matt West and grounded out into a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat and sent the game to extras. After Damien Magnifico worked around a jam in the top of the 10th, Michael Reed led off the bottom half with a walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on Rene Garcia’s RBI single to end it 9-8. Crazy game, but a must-win for the Sox and they did just that.

FULL RECAP HERE

Hitting Notes –

The Sox were out hit by one, but outscored the Dodgers by one, which obviously is the most important. The 13 hits came from six guys in the lineup, five of which had multi-hit affairs.

Rene Garcia, have a day! The catcher was called up to Colorado Spring from Biloxi yesterday. His flight to Denver was delayed. He had to wait for his checked bags. He didn’t get to Security Service Field until 1:45 or so…20 minutes before game time. He did nothing but go out and catch all ten innings, he threw out a baserunner trying to steal in the first inning, had a 2-6 fielder’s choice completed in the second, and then the hit parade began in the seventh. He picked up a knock in the seventh and in the ninth before his game-winning hit in the 10th. He ended up going 3-for-5 with three singles, a run scored, and the GW RBI. It was his second walk-off hit for the catcher with the Sox as he was credited with a bunt single on June 22 that brought in the game winning run.

Nate Orf tallied a 3-for-4 day, including a homer, and two runs scored. The blast was Orf’s second with the Sky Sox and sixth career homer for the infielder.

Michael Reed collected two hits including a double, single, walked and he scored two runs the final of which won the game.

Kyle Wren doubled, singled, walked, scored a run and plated a run from the leadoff spot.

Yadiel Rivera has been swinging the bat well and picked up another two hits, scored a run, and drove in one. He’s now up to .238 with the Sky Sox this season.

Orlando Arcia’s one hit was a dandy, a two-run single that tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Pitching Notes –

Wily Peralta pitched really well for the fourth straight start. He gave up a run in the first inning, but that was it until the sixth when he made one mistake. Corey Brown took him deep with a three-run bomb to center field. Other than that Peralta was great he completed 5 2/3 innings allowed 4 runs on 8 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4. He threw 101 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Michael Kirkman turned in four scoreless outs, scattering two hits and striking out two.

Austin Ross gave up the back-to-back homers in the 8th inning and was on the hook for the loss and blown save, but was redeemed from the loss by the offensive attack in the bottom of the ninth.

Tim Dillard gave up a run in the ninth, struck out one and allowed one hit.

Damien Magnifico never seems to make it easy on himself, but he got the job done in the 10th inning and earned his 6th win of the season. He gave up a hit and walked a man, but bounced back to strike out the side and kept the game tied.

Play of the Game –

Is there any doubt?

Pregame Interview with Dan Acheson and Strength and Conditioning Coach Andrew Emmick –