Ivan De Jesus went 5-for-5 with 3 RBI in last night’s 14-3 drubbing of the Chasers. He joins Garrett Cooper as the only two Sox players with 5-hit games this season. (Paat Kelly)
Three runs on sixteen hits in the final three games for the Sox in New Orleans. Safe to say they couldn’t wait to get home and that was VERY prevalent in their 14-3 victory over the Storm Chasers last night. They picked up the runs on 19 hits in what will go down as a come from behind victory. Yes, believe it or not, the Sox trailed in this game 2-0 after the first half inning.
Cam Gallagher picked up two RBI with a single in the first inning against Andrew Barbosa and the Chasers held an early 2-0 advantage over Colorado Springs. The bats began chipping away at the deficit in the next half inning for the home team. Lewis Brinson and Ryan Cordell each singled and two batters later Brett Phillips did the same to plate the led runner and make it 2-1.
Andrew Susac tied the game by going bridge against lefty Eric Skoglund in the second inning and Nate Orf hooked one over the wall in left for a two-run shot in the third and the Sox never looked back.
After pausing the scoring in the fourth, the Sox responded to Omaha’s run in the top of the fifth (on another Gallagher knock) and blasted Kyle Zimmer for five more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Ivan De Jesus and singled, Orf double him in to make it 5-3. Susac walked and Mauricio Dubon connected for an RBI single to make it 6-3. Brinson stepped in and capped off the inning with a 3-run homer, 9-3. The sixth saw the Sox plate another two runs on a De Jesus double, his fourth hit in four trips to the plate.
Garrett Cooper capped off a big night for him with a two-run homer that curled over the right field wall and made it 13-3 in the seventh. De Jesus picked up his fifth hit and third RBI of the night in the form of an RBI single in the seventh and thus ended the scoring. 14-3 Sox. How about that.
Oh yeah, the pitching wasn’t too bad either for Colorado Springs. Andrew Barbosa, Wei-Chung Wang, Tyler Cravy and Tim Dillard combined to limit the Chasers to just the three runs. Welcome home fellas! Get some rest, two games tomorrow and a day game on Wednesday!
Hitting Notes –
The Sox picked up 14 runs on 19 hits and had knocks from all but one of the starting nine. Six, count ’em SIX sky Sox picked up multiple hit games.
Ivan De Jesus led the way and picked up a 5-for-5 night at the plate and boosted his average up to .347 in the process. It’s the second time this season the Sky Sox have received a five hit game, Garrett Cooper picked up the first. De Jesus also added three RBI.
Lewis Brinson returned to the Sky Sox lineup after spending a couple of weeks in the big leagues and picked up where he left off. The outfielder went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, a single and three RBI. He made a bid for the cycle in the seventh inning and smoked a ball off the wall in left center, but was called out on a very close play at third. Many will swear he was safe. We’ll leave that decision up to you.
Nate Orf tallied two extra-base hits in the win, including his first home run of the season, and brought home three runs as well.
Mauricio Dubon made his triple-a debut with a fine night at the plate. He went 2-for-6 with a double, RBI and run scored. He also made a couple of nice plays in the field. Welcome to the PCL Mauricio!
Garrett Cooper went 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs batted in.
Andrew Susac hit a solo shot and picked up a single in his 2-for-4 night.
Brett Phillips went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Kyle Wren was the hitless one for the Sox as he wore the collar with an 0-for-5 night.
Ryan Cordell singled and went 1-for-2.
Pitching Notes –
Andrew Barbosa made his third start of the season and went the first four innings against the Chasers. He allowed two runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two on 61 pitches, 33 of which went for strikes.
Wei-Chung Wang continues to be the workhorse for the Sox as he was first out of the pen and called upon for two innings. He allowed a run on six hits and earned the win, improving to 5-0 in the process.
Tyler Cravy was activated off the DL and pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Tim Dillard tossed two scoreless to wrap things up.
Play of the Game –
Man…it is tough to pick a play of this game. Especially when you have 14 runs, 19 hits, four homers, solid pitching and the like. Since there is video of two Brinson plays, we’ll give you those.
First his attempt at a triple, where he was called out by a hair –
Second, his three run homer –
Pregame Interview with Dan Acheson and Sky Sox Pres/GM Tony Ensor –
Double-dose of Sox baseball coming your way today!
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (44-30) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (37-37) – 4:00 p.m. Doubleheader
Game Notes / Listen Live at 3:30 p.m.
Gm. 1 Pitching Probables: RHP Angel Ventura (2-1, 3.00) vs. LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (3-2, 3.48)
Sky Sox Starter: Angel Ventura will make his fourth Triple-A start tonight, and first home appearance for the Sky Sox in the opener of the twinbill. He made his debut against the El Paso Diablos (Chihuahuas) on May 17, pitched against Memphis on June 16, and is coming off a win in the series opener against the Baby Cakes. He enters play 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA, giving up six runs on 16 hits in 18 innings. The righty has walked six and fanned ten, while holding opponents to a .250 batting average against.
Ventura began the season in Biloxi and was 3-5 with a 3.48 ERA in eleven games, nine of which were starts. He was named a Southern League All-Star for his work with the Shuckers. The 24-year old was signed by the Brewers in 2011 and has steadily progressed each year. In 119 MiLB appearances he is 31-29 with a 3.91 ERA.
Last Time Out – June 20 – Win at New Orleans –
Ventura opened the series against the Baby Cakes with five strong innings. He allowed three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out two on 86 pitches, 52 of which went for strikes.
Storm Chasers Starting Arm: Jonathan Dziedzic gets the nod to open the double dip for Omaha this afternoon along the Front Range. The southpaw comes in 3-2 with a 3.48 ERA through the first eight starts of his season, one of which was the Opening Night start at Security Service Field. He spent over a month on the disabled list, from May 1 to June 9, thus explaining him making only eight starts. He has allowed 16 runs on 35 hits in 41 1/3 innings. He’s walked 12, fanned 35, allowed seven homers. Opponents are hitting .227 against him. The Sox handed Dziedzic the loss on opening night, plating two runs on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Ryan Cordell took him deep. He has faces the Sky Sox four times in his career and is 1-1, giving up 16 runs on 27 hits in 20 1/3 innings. Today will mark his fourth start in Colorado.
Dziedzic was selected by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2013 draft out of Lamar and has a career minor-league record of 26-26 with a 3.34 ERA over his first 97 outings, 94 of which have been starts. The Houston, Texas native is in his second full season with the Storm Chasers.
Last Time Out – June 20 – Loss at Iowa –
Dziedzic rebounded following a poor start in Oklahoma City to pitch five innings against the Cubs. He was dealt the loss, but went five innings and allowed four runs on five hits, three homers, walked one and struck out three on 88 pitches, 57 went for strikes. He has allowed six homers over his last three outings.
Game 1: Lineups
Gm. 2 Pitching Probables: RHP Bubba Derby (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Christian Binford (3-5, 6.60)
Sky Sox Starter: Right-hander Bubba Derby will make his second Triple-A start tonight in the nightcap of the two tilts. He earned the win with six shutout innings against the Iowa Cubs in what was a road game at Security Service Field. In 18 games and two starts with Biloxi, Derby went 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA, allowing 16 runs on 40 hits in 50 innings.
Derby was selected by the Athletics in the sixth round of the 2015 draft out of San Diego State University and was acquired by the Brewers, along with catcher Jacob Nottingham, in the trade that sent Khris Davis to Oakland. In 59 MiLB outings, 38 starts, the righty is 10-15 with a 4.11 ERA.
Last Time Out – June 23 – No decision vs. Mississippi –
Derby came out of the bullpen for the first time in four outings and was tagger for three runs on four hits. He walked four and didn’t strike anyone out, throwing 57 pitches, 33 strikes.
Storm Chasers Starting Arm: Right-hander Christian Binford is slated to get the nod in the nightcap for the Storm Chasers. He enters having made 8 starts in the PCL and five for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In total he is 4-5 with a 4.66 ERA, but in the PCL he is 3-5 with a 6.60 ERA. Binford has allowed 32 runs on 52 hits in 43 2/3 innings with Omaha. He’s given up nine homers, hit four batters, walked 14 and famed 33. Opponents are hitting .301 against him. He has not faced the Sox this season, but made three starts against them in 2016, two were at Security Service Field. In total he went 0-3, allowing 13 runs on 18 hits in 16 innings.
Binford was selected by the Royals in the 30th round of the 2011 draft out of Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. In his pro career, the Maryland-native is 33-47 with a 3.91 ERA in 117 appearances, 112 starts across five-plus seasons.
Last Time Out – June 18 – Loss at Iowa –
Binford picked up his fifth straight loss and lasted just 3 2/3 innings against the Iowa Cubs his last trip to the hill. He gave up nine runs on eight hits, walked five and fanned four on 96 pitched, 50 of which went for strikes.
Game 2: Lineups
Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 28th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will have the call of today’s games from Security Service Field beginning at 4:00 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup gets fired up at 3:30 p.m. MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.
Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,
Colorado Springs Sky Sox Official Team Blog 