Lefty Josh Hader takes the hill for the 10th time with the Sky Sox tonight in Omaha. The southpaw is still in search of his first win with Colorado Springs. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

Colorado Springs sent its ace to the mound Sunday night against the Storm Chasers and boy did Brent Suter not disappoint. The left pitched into the eighth inning and gave up four hits and struck out one. That was it. No runs allowed and no walks doled out by the lefty in the Sky Sox 3-0 shutout win over Omaha. It marked the second shutout of the season, the first of which came on June 1 against the Storm Chasers and you’ll never guess who started that game…That’s right, Brent Suter. The Sky Sox offense supported the lefty with a run in the third innings on a Yadiel Rivera single, then it was Nate Orf scoring a run on Lewis Brinson’s double in the eighth, and Josmil Pinto capped off the scoring with a solo homer in the ninth.

Before we dive into tonight’s tilt, the Brewers and Sky Sox have announced the following transactions –

SUMMARY:
ADD: RHP David Goforth optioned from Milwaukee

DEL: RHP Rob Scahill recalled to Milwaukee

Tonight, the Sky Sox get ready to face the Omaha Storm Chasers for the second game of the four game series and road trip at Werner Park in Papillion, Nebraska. The Sky Sox hope to keep it rolling on the road and continue to improve upon their league-worst road record of 20-34. They enter play two games under .500 at 55-57 and still in second place now just 7 games in back of the Dodgers. In hopes of continuing its winning ways and gaining more ground on or keeping pace with OKC, Colorado Springs will send left-hander Josh Hader to the hill, while Omaha will counter with RHP Jake Junis who is set to make his Triple-A debut. Hader has returned to form as of late recording 25 strikeouts over his last three starts, but is still in search of his first win in Triple-A. Junis went 9-7 with a 3.25 ERA in 21 starts with Northwest Arkansas in the Texas League. In 2016 the Sky Sox are 8-5 against the Storm Chasers, they hold an all-time record of 78-114 against them and are 32-61 between the lines at Werner Park.

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

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (55-57) at Omaha Storm Chasers (50-64) – 6:05 p.m. – Werner Park – Papillion, Nebraska

Pitching Matchup: LHP Josh Hader (0-3, 5.44) at RHP Jake Junis (Triple-A Debut)

Sky Sox Pitcher: Josh Hader is set to make his 10th Triple-A start, his fifth away from Security Service Field, and his 21st overall between Double-A Biloxi and the Sky Sox. Hader has dropped three of his first nine Triple-A starts which have come against Omaha, Memphis (2x), Round Rock (2x), New Orleans, Reno, and Nashville (2x). Last time out the lefty began with five scoreless innings and gave up a lone run in his final frame, the sixth. He is 0-3 with a 5.44 ERA allowing 29 runs on 44 hits, 23 walks, and 57 strikeouts in Triple-A. PCL opponents are hitting .260 against him.  He allowed 2 runs on 1 hit, 4 walks, and a season-high 9 strikeouts against Memphis in his Triple-A debut on June 12 and tossed five scoreless against the Express on June 27. In 20 starts combined, Hader is 2-4 with a 2.92 ERA and has allowed 36 runs (33 earned) on 82 hits, 42 walks, and 130 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings of work. He made an appearance in the MLB Futures Game and recorded a strikeout of Josh Naylor of the Marlins system with a 96-MPH fastball. The 22-year old is in his 5^th professional season after originally being selected by the Orioles in the 19^th round of the 2012 draft out of Old Mill High School in Millersville, Maryland. The Astros sent RHP Bud Norris to the Orioles in exchange for Hader in July 2013 and the Brewers acquired him from the ‘Stros in the Jul 30, 2015 deal that sent Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to Houston for Hader, Adrian Houser, Brett Phillips, and Domingo Santana. What a haul that trade garnered the BrewCrew. The lefty is 23-20 with five saves and a 2.94 ERA in 110 career outings, 78 of which have been starts in four-plus professional seasons.

Last Time Out: 8/3/16 vs. Nashville – Hader faced the Sounds for the second straight appearance and was again dominating. He allowed 1 run on 5 hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out 8 in six innings of work. He threw 89 pitches, 61 for strikes in a game the Sky Sox would come back to win 4-1.

Last 10 Games for Hader:

Storm Chasers Pitcher: Righty Jake Junis gets his first Triple-A start tonight for the Storm Chasers. The Illinois native went 9-7 with a 3.25 ERA in 21 Double-A starts with Northwest Arkansas before getting the call to the Royals’ top affiliate. He gave up 48 runs on 110 hits, walked 27, struck out 117 in 119 innings of work and was named a mid-season league all-star and Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 29. The 23-year old was selected by the Royals in the 29th round of the 2011 draft and has compiled a career record of 27-35 with a 4.24 ERA in 94 career appearances, 89 starts, spanning the five professional seasons.

Last 10 games for Junis (w/Northwest Arkansas) –

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he will have the call of today’s game from Werner Park at 6:05 p.m. I will get Sky Sox Warmup off the ground and running at 5:30 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson